Health Conditions Archives - Page 29 of 39 - Natural Eye Care Blog: News & Research on Vision

Gout Linked to Consumption of Sugary Beverages

Gout isn’t just a disease that attacked historical heavyweights like Henry VIII.

soft drink cans — image via hvo.wr.usgs.gov

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association seeks to determine if sugar-laden sodas and orange juice increase the likelihood that women will develop gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when crystals of uric acid accumulate in a joint.

Over 22 year study, researchers did find that consuming high-fructose beverages did increase women’s risk of developing gout. That said, out of the nearly 79,000 women in the study, only 778 developed the disease over that period. Source: https://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/jama.2010.1638v1?rss=1

Learn more about how to prevent and treat gout naturally.

Inhaled Sterioids Increase Diabetes Risk in COPD Patients

The use inhaled corticosteroids has been linked to a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The study published in the American Journal of Medicine indicated that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or COPD who use these drugs should pay special attention to this warning. Drugs include fluticasone (Flonase, Advair), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort) and beclometasone (QVAR, Beclovent). These drugs are also prescribed to people with asthma, but researchers say that their diabetes risk is not nearly as significant as it is for COPD patients.

Source: https://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Drug/inhaled_steroids_boost_diabetes_mellitus_risk_1311100714.html

Learn about natural treatment options for diabetes at our website.

For information about how other drugs can harm the body and the eyes, click here.

Blood Tests For Food Allergies in Children May Result in False Positives

Blood tests for food allergies in children may not be as reliable as you think.

According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics 84 – 93% of foods that had been avoided due to blood test results could be reintroduced after passing “food challenges.” Source: https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/

This is not to say that we should ignore the ways that food allergies and sensitivities can impact health. Diseases and conditions people suffer from can actually result from hidden allergies and sensitivities, including everything from rheumatoid arthritis to depression.

Learn more about common allergens and how lifestyle changes and supplements can help you manage food sensitivities.

Chamberbitter Fights Fatty Liver Disease

The traditional Chinese medicinal herb phyllanthus urinaria, or chamberbitter, has been found to effectively fight liver fat, according to scientists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Researchers say that chamberbitter reduces inflammation and fibrosis – or scarring – in the liver and that it was useful in treating mice with the liver condition non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH, also known as fatty liver disease, is associated with people who carry excessive weight around their abdomens and is becoming more common as the obesity epidemic worsens. It can lead to cirrhosis. Source: Lef Daily News

At Natural Eye Care, we believe strongly in the power of Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture’s potential health benefits. One product that involves traditional Chinese herbs is Jason’s Famous Cold and Flu Formula – it’s essential as we start moving into the cold winter months.

Acupuncture Aids Weight Loss

Researchers have just released the results of a new study called “The Effects of Acupuncture on Weight-Loss in Over-Weight and Obese Adults Over 24 Years Old.”

This study has been called “groundbreaking” because it claims that 95% of the participants lost weight over the six week trial. Even after they stopped receiving acupuncture treatments, 50% of the men and women in the study continued to lose weight.

The study’s subjects lost an average of one to two pounds per week without making any concerted changes to their diet or exercises regimens.

According to one participant, “The study helped with my energy levels and with my appetite. I now sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.” Source: https://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=10370&Section=Nutrition

We believe strongly in the power of acupuncture (Natural Eye Care’s founders are both licensed acupuncturists!). Acupuncture can also help those with allergies and sensitivities as well as diabetes. Learn more about managing weight loss.

Cancer Patients More Suceptible to Eye Conditions

After being diagnosed with cancer, and particularly after having undergone cancer treatments, it is especially important for patients to receive good eye care.

One lasting side effect if radiation can be dry eye syndrome. It is particularly important that any lubricating eye drops that patients use are free of preservatives.

Other complications include radiation induced retinopathy. Patients are particularly susceptible to this condition if they had chemotherapy at the same time as they were receiving radiation treatments. Retinopathy caused by radiation looks much like diabetic retinopathy and is treated in the same way.

Source: Optometry Times

Silicon in Bottled Water Can Help Women With Osteoporosis

Scientists interested in counteracting osteoporosis and decreases in bone density are researching how the silicon found in bottled water from artesian wells can help postmenopausal women with low bone mass. Silicon is required in trace amounts for normal bone formation.

This study, published in Nutrition Journal, shows that drinking such water from artesian aquifers is a good source of silicon. The trials only lasted 12 weeks, not enough time to show changes in the subjects’ bone markers, but researchers are optimistic and believe that further study is warranted.

Because standard treatments such as bisphosphonate drugs and hormone replacement therapy have been associated with osteonecrosis (bone death caused by decreased blood supply) or increased cardiovascular risk, it is important to find new options for women that have fewer debilitating and life threatening side effects.

There are many other compounds that can help combat osteoporosis including magnesium, vitamin D, and copper.

For other helpful supplements and a full overview of natural treatment options for osteoporosis, click here.

Source: Nutrition Journal

Smoking Increases Risk of Alzheimer’s, Cataracts, and Macular Degeneration

We recommend that anyone interested in enjoying healthy eyes quit smoking because it has been linked to eye diseases including cataracts and macular degeneration. Here’s another reason to quit smoking: cigarettes increase your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease by over 150%.

Though researchers are not exactly certain of why smoking can lead to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, it may have something to do with the fact that smoking causes inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are known markers for Alzheimer’s.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, followed over 21,000 Californians over three decades. Source: livescience.com

A non-smoking lifestyle marked by other healthy choices related to diet, exercise, and stress management are the key to eye health and overall health. Learn more about the Vision Wellness Protocol.

Learn more about how understanding and managing Alzheimer’s naturally.

Fall Babies More Likely To Develop Food Allergies

Babies due in October or November are twice as likely to have allergies to common foods like milk and eggs.

It’s not necessarily related to their birth dates, however, but rather the time of year when they are at 11 weeks gestation. The high levels of tree pollen present when babies in utero are just developing their antibodies are thought to be responsible. Also, it is possible that mothers’ low post-winter vitamin D levels at that crucial point in development could be linked to the development in their children’s higher allergy rates.

Of the children studied, 11% of those whose 11th week of gestation occurred in the springtime developed allergies opposed to the 6% of babies who hit 11 weeks during the winter.

The research was carried out at Oulu University Hospital in Finland. According to this story’s source, Life Extension Daily News, “rising rates of asthma and allergies affecting children over the last 30 years have been attributed to a range of triggers including excessively-clean lifestyles, diet and early use of antibiotics.”

For more information on causes, prevention, and treatment if allergies and sensitivities, visit our website.

Vitamin B12 Helps Fight Alzheimer’s, Anemia, and Glaucoma

A study out of Sweden shows that people with diets rich in vitamin B12 are much less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Published in the journal Neurology, researchers describe how the risk of Alzheimer’sdropped by 2% for every micromole per liter of vitamin B12 found in the blood.

However, they also found that decreased levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which is also associated with cardiovascular disease and stroke, can also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Vitamin B12 can actually lower those homocysteine levels.

According to the source of this story, Medical News Today, study authors conclude that “their study reveals the need for more research into vitamin B12’s role as a marker for identifying individuals at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Good food sources of B12 include eggs, sardines, clams, and mackerel. Learn more about food sources of nutrients.

It has long been known that B12 is essential for a healthy nervous system, with deficiencies leading to permanent damage of nerve cells. B12 comes from fish, meat, eggs, milk products and processed fortified foods. People who are on a vegan diet need to make sure they are getting enough B12, since the body stores B12 for a long time and deficiency symptoms may not appear until the problem is serious.