The Real Anti-Inflammatory System: PGE1, Cell Membranes, and Why I Don’t Recommend Fish Oi
The Real Anti-Inflammatory System: PGE1, Cell Membranes, and Why I Don’t Recommend Fish Oil
Inflammation is at the root of nearly every chronic condition—from hormone imbalance and autoimmune issues to joint pain, fatigue, and brain fog. Your body actually has its own most powerful anti-inflammatory built in: a molecule called Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). But managing inflammation isn’t about taking turmeric or fish oil every day. If that were enough, most people would already feel better. But managing inflammation isn’t about taking turmeric or fish oil every day. If that were enough, most people would already feel better.
The truth is: most "anti-inflammatory" supplements are symptom-chasers. They suppress inflammation, but they don’t resolve it. And that includes fish oil.
Why I Don’t Recommend Fish Oil
Fish oil (rich in EPA and DHA) has long been marketed as the go-to natural anti-inflammatory. But there’s a lesser-known consequence: high-dose fish oil can actually displace omega-6 fatty acids—specifically linoleic acid (LA)—from your cell membranes.
This matters, because linoleic acid is your most essential structural fatty acid. Your body uses LA to produce Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) and Dihomo-Gamma Linolenic Acid (DGLA)—the precursors to Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), your body’s built-in anti-inflammatory molecule.
What Is PGE1?
PGE1 (Prostaglandin E1) is a powerful, hormone-like compound made inside your cells. It:
Regulates immune function and inflammation
Supports hormone balance (especially estrogen and progesterone)
Improves skin barrier and wound healing
Balances mood, stress response, and pain perception
Stabilizes mast cells and histamine
Enhances insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation
When PGE1 is low, inflammation becomes chronic, and systems begin to fail.
Signs You May Have Low PGE1:
Dry, flaky, or inflamed skin (eczema, keratosis pilaris)
PMS, painful periods, or breast tenderness
Slow wound healing or poor skin elasticity
Histamine intolerance, asthma, or allergies
Autoimmune flare-ups
Anxiety, irritability, or poor stress tolerance
Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or joint pain
Blood sugar dysregulation
Long-term fish oil or NSAID use
What Disrupts PGE1 Production?
A lack of clean omega-6s in the diet
Damaged or oxidized fats (canola, soy, processed foods)
Poor membrane integrity
Deficiencies in zinc, B6, and magnesium
Long-term use of NSAIDs or high-dose fish oil
What You Need Instead
To restore your body’s natural anti-inflammatory system, you need to repair your cell membranes and support the production of PGE1:
1. Clean Omega-6 Sources
Choose unprocessed, non-industrial sources of linoleic acid. Avoid oxidized seed oils.
2. Therapeutic GLA
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) provides GLA directly, helping your body produce more DGLA and PGE1. I recommend:
BodyBio EPO – use my client code ANGELACLIENTCARE for 20% off at checkout
Flora Effamol Beautiful Skin – available at 20% off when you sign up for my Fullscript dispensary
3. Phospholipids (BodyBio PC)
Your membranes are built from phospholipids, not fish oil. BodyBio PC supplies phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylserine (PS), helping rebuild cell membranes and mitochondrial health—so your cells can actually use fatty acids like GLA.
4. Mineral Cofactors
Zinc, B6, and magnesium are needed to activate the enzymes that convert LA to GLA to PGE1. A personalized Mineral Analysis helps fine-tune your support.
5. Sunlight and Grounding
Light and electrons drive membrane signaling and inflammation resolution. Morning sun, time in nature, and red light therapy can help restore circadian rhythms and cell safety signals.
Why Fish Oil Isn’t the Answer
Oxidized DHA can damage membranes, increase lipid peroxidation, and suppress both helpful and harmful prostaglandins. It may reduce symptoms short term—but at the cost of your body’s long-term healing potential.
If you’re relying on fish oil or turmeric to calm your inflammation, it may be time to look deeper.
Final Thoughts
Inflammation isn’t something to mute—it’s something to resolve. Your body already has the tools to do it. You just need to supply the right materials.
Instead of outsourcing inflammation control to synthetic or exogenous supplements, rebuild your natural capacity for regulation—from the membrane out.
Want to know what your body actually needs to produce PGE1 and restore balance? Start with a Mineral Analysis or explore lipid therapy through my foundational protocols.