Okay you wonderful people. I have finally purchased Protein Power. I was very interested in its section on arachidonic acid.

This is part of an article I found on www.healthandage.com (so I don't have to retype everything!)

Certain ingredients in our food promote the inflammatory process. One, for example, is arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Although the human organism normally produces arachidonic acid itself, most (up to 90%) is supplied from food. It is contained in foods of animal origin only. Arachidonic acid fulfills an important function in our body, but in excess it promotes the formation of mediators and precipitators of the inflammatory process, especially the "free radicals."

Among substances that reduce the inflammatory process are the antioxidants: vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene; the minerals zinc and selenium; and the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. Whereas vitamins bind and neutralize free radicals, omega-3 fatty acids prevent the formation of inflammation mediators. (Jinx note: See kids - very important to take those vitamins and EFAs!)

Sensitivity to achidonic acid can manifest as inflammation in various parts of the body: allergies, skin rash - like eczema or not, chronic fatigue, arthritis, joint swelling, poor or restless sleep, difficulty on awaking - grogginess, brittle hair, THIN BRITTLE NAILS, constipation, dry- flaking skin.

Can you believe thin brittle nails?? That blew my mind. I could not figure out for the life of me what was going on. Anyway, I do not have all of these symptoms but eating really fatty stuff like bacon and lots of eggs (yolks have highest concentration of any food!) has BIG consequences for me.

Hope this helps someone. Having this info has made me feel like a new woman (hopefully a new woman, minus the rash and brittle nails!).

Your amiga,
Jinx