Wellness Archives - Page 20 of 27 - Natural Eye Care Blog: News & Research on Vision

Prevent Macular Degeneration With Diet, Exercise, and Smoking Cessation

It’s great when medical studies support what we have been telling our patients and clients for years.

A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology describes how a good diet, regular exercise, and the avoidance of smoking can reduce one’s risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration. The study revealed that there was little difference in whether one smoked for a long time or only briefly; any history of smoking puts you in the higher risk category. The findings are based on a study of 1313 participants ranging in age from 55 to 74 years. Source: Medscape

Learn more about how prevention is the best medicine when you want to ward off eye disease and other conditions.

For more about how you can prevent and treat macular degeneration, please visit our website.

Genes NOT the Cause of Many Diseases

A new study published by The Bioscience Resource Project offers further support to something that we have long shared with our patients and clients: genes are not necessarily the cause of common diseases.

Researchers from around the world came to a similar conclusion: though there are genetic factors that make people susceptible to many diseases, very few are strong enough to be of any importance. These findings could have an effect on how we look at the development of heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes, autism, ADHD, dementia, schizophrenia, and depression.

Study authors are explaining their results in a way that will be very familiar to those who know how we approach health at Natural Eye Care. Factors like diet and nutrition, lifestyle habits, and stress management all play key factors in the development of disease. Source: lef.org

Learn more about preventing diseases of the eyes and body at our website.

Meditation As Effective As Drugs For Treating Depression

A daily meditation practice can be just as effective as taking prescription drugs if you want to prevent a relapse of depression.

A study out of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada found that patients who attended mindfulness training and were taught to productively reflect on their feelings were able to avoid taking mediation. After a year and a half only 38% in the study group had suffered a relapse of depression compared to 46% who took medication. Source: Livescience.com

Antidepressant medication’s side effects can have negative effects on the eyes. Click here to learn about how medications can damage the eyes.

Daily meditation is part of the wellness practices that we recommend as part of our Vision Wellness Protocol.

Healthy Lifestyle Prevents Stroke, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma

A healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of stroke by up to 80%.

Research published in the journal Stroke encourages people to exercise regularly, drink alcohol only in moderation, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, control weight, and not smoke in order to avoid stroke.

These guidelines are the same that we recommend when it comes to avoiding vision conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Moderate Alcohol Use

There’s another piece of evidence that suggests moderate drinking – one or two alcoholic beverages each day – can be beneficial for the eyes.

A study of over 3,600 Australians found that when the figures were adjusted to account for other factors (including age, smoking, and diabetes), people who had one or two drinks each day were 50% less likely to have cataract surgery. The moderate drinkers were less likely to require surgery for cataracts than counterparts who drank more as well as those who did not drink at all.

Source: https://www.osnsupersite.com

Snoring and Insomnia Can Lead to Metabolic Syndrome

Snoring and insomnia are often seen as nuisances, either to the person who just cannot fall asleep or to the partner who has to listen to all that racket. They may be real cause for concern, however.

New research finds that both snoring and insomnia can predict one’s likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome. Snoring and insomnia may even cause metabolic syndrome. As described in this story’s source, the LA Times’s “Booster Shots” column, “Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors — excess abdominal fat, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, low HDL cholesterol and high blood pressure — that increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.”

University of Pittsburgh researchers publishing in the journal Sleep found that those with insomnia are 80% more likely to develop metabolic syndrome. People who snore loudly were twice as likely to develop the condition.

The Vision Diet is not only beneficial to the eyes, but it will also improve your overall health; visit our site for details.

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.

Tips and Warnings If You Must Take Antibiotics

The discovery of antibiotics was a miracle of a kind, but the wonder drugs are not without their drawbacks.

Antibiotics have been associated with dry eye syndrome, eye hemorrhaging, cataracts, and light sensitivity. Learn more about how antibiotics and other drugs side effects can pose a risk to the health of your eyes.

If you really do need to take antibiotics, you should also think about your diet and how the foods you eat can affect the effectiveness of the drugs. Remember that antibiotics can wipe out essential vitamins like B and K, so consider a supplement to give yourself a boost. Don’t take antibiotics at the same time as iron and calcium rich foods because they inhibit the body’s ability to absorb the medication. Cut back on acidic foods like citrus, chocolate, and tomato based products for the same reason.

Source: LefDailyNews

Remember to take a probiotic and eat plenty of yogurt (preferably goat yogurt) to keep your internal flora thriving through the course of antibiotic use.

Weight Loss Discovery: Eat Less When You Eat a Nutrient Rich Diet

One of the most basic and essential recommendations we can make to those interested in maintaining and improving eye health is to eat well.

A new study published in the Nutrition Journal are better able to manage their weight when they consume a diet high in nutrients. The more nutritious your diet, the higher the “micronutrient density” is, and the higher that micronutrient density, the less likely you are to feel the hunger that will drive you to overeat. Source: Nutrition Journal

Learn more about the nutrient contents of food and how eating certain things can enhance eye health.

For more on the Vision Diet, click here.

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.