Health Conditions Archives - Page 27 of 39 - Natural Eye Care Blog: News & Research on Vision

Cranberries in Pure Form Can Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

The latest findings of people unsuccessfully trying to prevent recurring urinary tract infections by drinking cranberry juice cocktail are no big surprise. The study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, showed that college-aged women who drank 8 ounces of 27% cranberry juice beverages were no less likely to suffer from recurring UTIs than there peers who drank a placebo drink. Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

In order to get the true benefits of cranberry, which other research has shown prevents E. coli, the bacteria that causes most urinary tract infections, from attaching to the walls of the bladder, it is important to drink the juice in a purer form than that found in most grocery stores. To guarantee the potency of the cranberries you take to prevent UTIs, try a high quality, pure supplement. Remember, cranberry extract is not a substitute for the use of antibiotics when fighting acute infections.

Learn more about how to prevent urinary tract infections naturally.

Exercise: Prevent Diabetes By Walking 10,000 Steps Per Day

A new study published in the British Medical Journal makes the case for walking away from diabetes.

The researchers studied nearly 600 adults over 5 years and found that those who took 10,000 steps per day (the equivalent of 5 miles) had much better insulin sensitivity than those who walked less.

Diabetes risk decreases when one’s insulin sensitivity increases.

Source: LA Times article

Learn more about the related condition, diabetic retinopathy – a potentially blinding disease that can be prevented and treated with proper nutrition and exercise.

Low Muscle Mass = Increased Risk

New study shows low skeletal muscle mass and strength often found in those who are older or obese may put individuals at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and that a good diet may not be enough to prevent type 2 diabetes.

These associations were stronger in people age 60 and under, in whom sarcopenia (the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength associated with aging) was associated with high levels of blood sugar in both obese and thin people, and with diabetes in obese individuals.

The findings are published in the journal Plos One.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about nutrition and diabetes.

Excess Iron Linked to Alzheimers / Macular Degeneration

Alzheimer’s & Excess Iron

While we often think of iron deficiency as a problem that causes anemia, researchers have found that excessive iron may increase one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers publishing in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease state that some studies have found that accumulation of metals in the body, including copper, zinc, and iron, have been linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, this study focuses upon Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease patients who demonstrated high levels of iron in their brains. Source: https://www.foodconsumer.org

Iron and Macular Degeneration

Excessive iron in the body or hemochromatosis may lead to the wet form of macular degeneration. Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia suspect that too much iron, known to have cumulative negative effects throughout body, can also speed the aging in the eyes. If there is a link between iron levels and macular degeneration, people may be able to ward off the eye disease by donating blood a couple times annually to reduce iron levels the amount if iron in the body.

Source: https://www.eurekalert.org

High Fat and Cholesterol Diets Linked to Breast Cancer

The fat and cholesterol that is so common in the Western diet may make people more susceptible to breast cancer.

The study, published in the American Journal of Pathology, indicates mice fed diets high in fat and cholesterol developed twice as many tumors as mice that ate limited amounts of fat and cholesterol. The mice who ate “junk food” grew tumors that were 50% larger than those in their healthier friends.

One intriguing aspect of the study: the “Western diet” mice had lower blood cholesterol levels. Researchers state that this shows that cancer actually uses cholesterol to fuel its growth. Source: https://www.foodconsumer.org/

Our Vision Diet will not only help your eyes, but will improve your overall health and can help prevent a host of other diseases.

Alzheimer’s Disease May Respond To Compounds in Green Tea

New studies are finding that Alzheimer’s Disease may be the result of the build up of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) in the brain and green tea might be a good candidate for the clean up crew. A green tea extract that was particularly bioavailable (the body was capable of absorbing its “good stuff”) was found to be capable of lower brain toxicity levels. Source: Nutraceuticals World

Green tea can be a powerful source of antioxidants. Other studies have found that people who take antioxidant supplements (vitamin C or vitamin E) have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared with people who do not take antioxidants. Preliminary research shows that higher blood levels of vitamin E correlate with better brain functioning in middle-aged and older adults.

Learn more about how nutrition and supplements can help ward off Alzheimer’s Disease.

Diabetes and Depression Linked to Fatal Heart Attacks In Women

face in hands — image via healthfinder.gov

A new study out of the Harvard School of Public Health finds that women who have diabetes and/or depression are more likely to die of a heart attack than women without those conditions.

According to the study of nearly 80,ooo older women, those with depression were 44% more likely to die of a heart attack. Those who had diabetes were 35% more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack. Women with both conditions ran twice the risk of dying of a heart attack compared to those free of both depression and diabetes.

Source: lef.org/

Do your heart a favor and learn more about how to prevent and treat diabetes.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Linked to Cataracts

Hormone therapy has been proscribed to some men suffering from prostate cancer. Unfortunately, this treatment has been linked to cataracts according to a study published in the Annals of Epidemiology.

Research shows that study participants on hormone therapy were 9% more likely to develop a cataract compared to those who were not treated with hormone therapy. In men whose testicles had been removed the risk soared to 26%. The study involved 66,000 prostate cancer victims.

Learn more about natural cataracts prevention and treatment at our website.

For more about drugs that can harm the eyes, have a look at this page.

Mercury in Fish Can Increase Blood Pressure: Find Omegas in Other Sources for Heart and Eye Health

Your new year’s resolutions may well include eating better, both for the health of your heart and the health of your eyes. The essential fatty acids found in fish can be a great addition to your diet.

In particular, omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce cholesterol and increase circulation to the retina. Omega-6 fatty acids are important as they protect cells from degenerative changes and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Both Omega 3s and 6s help prevent and even treat glaucoma and macular degeneration.

A word of caution about your fish intake the effect of mercury which contaminates the larger ocean predator fish (tuna, swordfish, marlin, sharks, etc): too much mercury in the body can raise your blood pressure.

Source: theheart.org/article/1010897.doc

Small fish like sardines are a safe choice, but there are non-swimming sources of essential fatty acids out there too. Find omega-3s in flax seed oil, black current oil, walnuts and walnut oils, dark leafy vegetables, eggs (preferably from free range chickens), spices (including mustard, fennel, cumin, and fenugreek). Get your omega-6s from evening primrose, borage and black currant oils.

Learn more about food sources of nutrients and how they can benefit your eyes and your whole body.

Chest Pains Linked to Family Stress

Time with your family can either do your heart good or can do quite the opposite.

A study out of Denmark shows that worries over family situations can lead to chest pains or angina. The study included over 4500 middle aged people who filled in questionnaires about their own health over a six year period.

Over the six years 9% developed angina. Problems with spouses increased the risk of developing angina by a factor of three; those who had trouble with their kids were doubly likely to develop chest pains. Issues with relations that were not as close did not seem to effect the heart. Source: https://www.theheart.org/

The health of the body and the health of the eyes are intimately connected. Follow our wellness protocol for your eyes and realize benefits for you heart as well.

Quit Smoking to Help Your Heart & Prevent Macular Degeneration

The American Journal of Cardiology has just published a study describing how cigarette smokers with coronary heart disease an greatly benefit from kicking the smoking habit.

The importance of smoking cessation is well documented, but this study goes as far as to say that people who currently smoke are 57% more likely to suffer a major cardiovascular event than those who have quit smoking. Source: https://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Lifestyle/smoking_cessation_reduces_heart_disease_risk_1226100122.html

Studies have also proven that smoking cessation can reduce one’s risk of developing macular degeneration.

Learn more macular degeneration research at our website.