Scientists said, after a recent study, that eating foods such as oily fish, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can prevent the spread of prostate cancer. Omega-3 and its "partner" Omega-6, which the body cannot produce, are essential fatty acids associated with good health. Omega-3 can be found in flax seeds while raw nuts and seeds contain Omega-6. Since the body cannot make them, it has to get these acids directly from food, especially from fish, the body needing Omega-3s for skin and tissue repair and nerve and immune system function. The lack of Omega-3s can lead to dry skin, dandruff, flaking nails and low energy levels. Studies conducted at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, England, showed that Omega-3 fats could block the spread of cancerous cells. "Omega-6 fats, found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, increased the spread of tumor cells into bone marrow. This invasion was blocked by Omega 3 fats -- the ones found in oily fish. It is possible to have a healthy balance of these two types of fat -- we only need about half as much omega-3 as omega-6 -- that will still stop cancer cells from spreading," Dr Mick Brown, chief scientist in the research group, said. It is believed that Omega-3 acids block the functions of Omega-6, which cancer cells may use to get their energy, stopping the latter from spreading to the prostate. Prostate cancer, treatable in its earliest stages, is the third most common cancer in men worldwide, with 543,000 new cases each year. Even if the role of diet in prostate cancer is not fully clear, people are advised to eat a healthy diet, high in fiber, fruit and vegetables and low in red and processed meat in order to reduce their risk of cancer.