I came across this link, which was posted on another forum and thought it was important to share it here:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158478.php
A research published ahead of print in Gut (International Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) reports that high intakes of linoleic acid might be associated to a third of ulcerative colitis cases. Linoleic acid is a common dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (N-6 PUFA).
Ulcerative colitis has been linked to other complications, including an increased risk of bowel cancer. It is a painful chronic condition, in which the lining of the bowel becomes severely inflamed and blistered.
The authors point out that if indeed there is a causal link, just about a third of cases (30 percent) of ulcerative colitis could be attributable to high intakes of linoleic acid.
When it is absorbed in the body, linoleic acid is transformed to arachidonic acid, which is a component of the cell membranes in the bowel.
Arachidonic acid can then be converted into various inflammatory chemicals. High levels of these chemicals have been found in the bowel tissue of patients with ulcerative colitis.
In addition, the research establishes that the highest intake of omega 3 fatty acid also known as docosahexanoic acid reduced the probability of developing ulcerative colitis by 77 percent. Omega 3 fatty acid is found in oily fish such as salmon and herring.
Another great reason to stick with the Paleo diet, which is an anti-inflammatory diet, concentrating on grass-fed animal products whose ratio of omega 3: omega 6 is close to 1:1 versus the grain-fed animal products whose ratio is 1:20, thereby causing inflammation.
But there are foods, such as nuts, and oils which are also high in omega 6's, and therefore inflammatory.