Are the fruits and vegetables you eat contaminated with pesticides?

Individuals can lower their pesticide exposure by almost 80% by avoiding the top twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead.

Consumption of the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables will expose a person to about 10 pesticides per day, on average, compared with less than 2 pesticides per day in the least contaminated.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization, has published The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, which ranks pesticide contamination for 47 popular fruits and vegetables based on an analysis of 87,000 tests for pesticides on these foods, conducted from 2000 to 2007 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

The twelve most contaminated, starting with the highest pesticide load:
1. peaches
2. apple
3. sweet bell pepper
4. celery
5. nectarine
6. strawberries
7. cherries
8. kale
9. lettuce
10. grapes – imported
11. carrot
12. pear

The twelve least contaminated, starting with the lowest pesticide load:
1. onion
2. avocado
3. sweet corn – frozen
4. pineapple
5. mango
6. asparagus
7. sweet pea – frozen
8. kiwi
9. cabbage
10. eggplant
11. papaya
12. watermelon

The EWG used six measures of contamination, and crops were ranked based on a composite score from all categories. These measures were:

• Percent of the samples tested with detectable pesticides
• Percent of the samples with two or more pesticides
• Average number of pesticides found on a sample
• Average amount (level in parts per million) of all pesticides found
• Maximum number of pesticides found on a single sample
• Number of pesticides found on the commodity in total

Pesticides have adverse effects on the nervous system and hormones. They have been shown to have carcinogenic effects, and to cause skin, eye and lung irritation. The Guide does not present a complex assessment of pesticide risks, but instead simply reflects the overall load of pesticides found on commonly eaten fruits and vegetables.

How can you avoid consumption of pesticides? Choose to purchase produce low in pesticides and buy organically-raised fruits and vegetables as frequently as possible.

SOURCE: Environmental Working Group, Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides,
http://www.foodnews.org/methodology.php

AREDS Plus Omega-3 for Macular Degeneration (AMD)

A compilation study from Tufts University, University of Wisconsin, and the EMMES Corporation researched the effects of taking the AREDS supplement plus omega-3 and reducing dGI (dietary glycemic index) on AMD (age-related macular degeneration). dGI is a numerical index given to a carbohydrate-rich food that is based on the average increase in blood glucose levels occurring after the food is eaten.

The trial spanned 8 years and studied 3,000 eligible AREDS AMD trial participants.

Looking at the risk of advanced AMD, the study found that the AREDS supplement plus higher intakes of omega-3 (DHA and EPA), and reducing dietary glycemic index (dGI) helped reduce progression of the disease.

See more information on nutrition and macular degeneration and related research studies.

GLA Improves Comfort in Contact Lens-Related Dry Eye

A dry eye study, shows that a group using GLA showed a significant improvement in the specific symptom of “dryness” at 3 and 6 months (p <0.01) as well as significant improvement in overall lens comfort at 6 months (p<0.01). Tear meniscus height was increased in the GLA group at 6 months relative to baseline (p<0.01), although all other objective signs were unchanged

GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) is an omega-6 unsaturated fatty acid made in the human body from linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid found in vegetable oils and egg yolks. GLA has anti-inflammatory properties and can also be found in oils derived from black currant seeds and the evening primrose plant.

Several small trials testing GLA and linoleic (LA) oil in dry eye syndrome with an inflammatory component report reduced ocular surface inflammation and symptom improvement.

Related Studies:
1. Barabino, M et al. Systemic linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid therapy in dry eye syndrome with an inflammatory component. Cornea 22:97–101, 2003.
2. Aragona P, et al. Systemic omega-6 essential fatty acid treatment and PGE1 tear content in Sjogren’s syndrome patients. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 46:4474–9, 2005
3. Kokke KH, et al. Oral omega-6 essential fatty acid treatment in contact lens associated dry eye. Contact Lens Anterior Eye 31:141-6, 2008.
4. Macri A, et al. Effect of linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid on tear production, tear clearance and on the ocular surface after photorefractive keratectomy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 241: 561-6, 2003.

For more information on dry eyes and natural ways this eye condition can be helped, go to Natural Eye Care
 Eye Conditions section and click on Dry Eyes.

AMD Patients Benefit from Balance Training

Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) experience a deterioration of their central vision. Two thirds of AMD patients have problems with visuomotor and balance skills resulting in clumsiness and increased risk of falls.

A new study investigates the link between balance training and improved visual, vestibular and somatosensory functions involved in balance control. The study measured the effectiveness of balance training on both reading speed and several visuomotor functions.

The study looked a balance data for 54 patients with AMD and 55 controls. Balance training was then given to 16 patients and 14 controls. The researchers evaluated reading performance, postural sway, pointing accuracy, and, for the AMD patients, the effect of low vision training and balance training.

Result: “Even after a limited number of sessions of cross-modal balance training, the results show a significant improvement for the vestibular input and fixation stability.” Resarchers concluded that such training can be helpful for poor vision patients to maintain balance.

Learn more about AMD, including diet, nutrition, self-help and alternative treatment information.

Published: Balance training and visual rehabilitation of age-related macular degeneration patients, Radvay, et al, Journal of Vestibular Research, Volume 17, Number 4, 2007, pages 183 – 193.

Dry Eye Disease on the Rise Among U.S. Men

Almost 4% of men in the United States develop dry eye disease (DED) after age 50, while almost 7.7% of men over 80 develop the disease, making it one of the most common eye conditions in the country.  By the year 2030, DED is expected to affect more than 2.79 million US men.

Typical symptoms of dry eye include dryness, grittiness, irritation, difficulty reading for long periods of time, burning and even the seeming contradiction of excessive tearing or watering.

In the study, published in June issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers analyzed data on 25,444 men over the age of 50 who participated in the Physicians’ Health Study I and II.  DED was defined as the presence of clinically diagnosed dry eye or severe symptoms (both dryness and constant or frequent irritation).   About 3% reported a previous diagnosis of dry eye, while 6.8% said they had constantly or frequently experienced at least one symptom such as dryness or irritation. Roughly 2.2% reported both symptoms constantly or frequently.

Although research has shown DED is more common among women, about 1.68 million men over age 50 in the United States now have the disease.

Researchers also noted that DED risk increases with age, hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia (a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate), and antidepressant use.

Learn about vitamins and other nutritional products recommended for dry eye, and review a list of drugs that can cause dry eye symptoms at the Natural Eye Care website

SOURCE:  “Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease Among US Men,” Schaumberg, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(6):763-768.

Risk Of Stroke Greater For Those With Glaucoma

Open angle glaucoma has been identified as a risk factor for stroke, but recently researchers have tightened this connection.  They analyzed information from the over 1 million patients identified in the Taiwan National Health Insurance database, comparing over 4000 patients with OAG to over 20,000 patients without the condition – the data came from a 5 year period.

Almost 15% of the patients identified as having OAG had strokes within the 5 years; only 9.5% of the non-OAG patients had strokes in the 5 year period.

The researchers adjusted the data for demographics and found that OAG patients were 1 1/2 times as likely to suffer a stroke within that time span.

A later study by Dustin French, PhD substantiated this information.

 

Learn more about glaucoma including self-help tips

Read other studies about glaucoma

SOURCE:  “Open-Angle Glaucoma and the Risk of Stroke Development. A 5-Year Population-Based Follow-Up Study”, Ho, et al, PubMed, 2009 May 21, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19461039

Researchers: Jau-Der Ho and associates, Taipei Medical University in Taipei, Taiwan

 

AMD Linked to Cognitive Decline

Seniors who experience cognitive decline and don’t do well on memory, language, and concentration tests are more likely to be suffering from the early developing macular degeneration. Researchers found that patients with impaired memory are more likely to have AMD without regard to their age, their education, and vascular risk factors that are commonly tied to cognitive difficulties.

The researchers evaluated over 2000 patients from 69 to 97 years old, who were part of a heart health study.  Their cognitive functioning was assessed and they were also evaluated for dementia with neuropsychological testing methods.

After controlling for age, gender, race, and location, the researchers found that patients with poor cognitive functioning were more likely to have early AMD than were patients with higher assessments.  Analysis additionally controlled for blood pressure, cholesterol level, diabetes, education and whether and how much the patients smoked, as well as whether the patients had a particular apolipoprotein E genotype, and found the connection to be even greater.  However the researchers did not find a tie of dementia or Alzheimers’ with AMD development.

 

Researchers: Dr. Tien Yin Wong, and associates, Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Published:  Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Cognitive Function, and Dementia – The Cardiovascular Health Study, Baker, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(5):667-673.

 

Macular Degeneration: Techniques for Adaption

Refocusing Vision | Cortical Reorganization

Refocusing Vision

Patient who develop age-related macular degeneration lose their central vision but their peripheral vision often is not damaged  The UK Macular Disease Society has developed a method to train people to use the undamaged parts of their eyes to read and identify faces. 

Patients can be taught to use their peripheral vision to make up for damage to their central vision, using “eccentric viewing” and “steady eye techniques” which means that by not looking directly at an object, but above, below, or to one side, they can see it more clearly.

The training process teaches patients  where to focus their gaze to improve their vision. The method works, not only for general vision but for reading as well – by moving the text rather than the eyes so that the words move into the portion of the gazed where the patient has good vision.

Learn more about macular degeneration

SOURCE:  BBC News Channel, April 10, 2009, https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7958838.stm

Cortical Reorganization

Not only can people be taught techniques for adapting to loss of central vision, but apparently the brain also begins to adapt.

A new study shows that when people with retinal disease such as macular degeneration use a peripheral part of their retina to compensate for their loss of central vision, their brain appears to compensate by reorganizing its neural connections – a cortical reorganization.

Researchers  used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity of patients performing tests that stimulate the peripheral areas of vision.  They found that when patients did so brain activity was more active in the parts of the brain where activity is seen when central vision is employed.

The researchers feel  that large-scale cortical reorganization of visual processing occurs in humans in who experience retinal disease.  While several other studies have suggested that the brain can reorganize itself, this is the first study to show that this reorganization in patients with retinal disease is related to patient behavior.

Researchers are currently analyzing how long this reorganization takes and whether it can be assisted with low-vision training.

Researchers: Georgia Institute of Technology

Published: Reorganization of visual processing is related to eccentric viewing in patients with macular degeneration, Schumacher, et al, Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, Volume 26, Number 4-5, 2008, 391 – 402.

Link Discovered Between Glaucoma and WDR36 Gene

In glaucoma, cells in the optic nerve die, preventing the brain from understanding what patients see, first in peripheral vision and gradually in all vision.  It is associated with high levels of intraocular pressure and connected to risk factors to and from a number of other conditions including stroke, herpes virus, hypothyroid conditions, and many lifestyle factors.

Researchers have thought for some time that there may be a tie between the WDR36 gene and glaucoma.  However, they’ve not been able to understand exactly why that gene has an effect and why some patients with that gene mutated or varied have glaucoma but other patients do not.

A new study indicates that glaucoma develops as a result of changes in several different genes, not only WDR36.   This explains the mixed results. The researchers found that 10% of glaucoma incidents arise due to genes that have been understood – the idea of simultaneous changes in several different genes explains much.

The function of the WDR36 gene is to help make specific molecules known as ribosomes that are instrumental in creating proteins to help optic nerve cells function properly.  If WDR36 changes and does not help produce ribosome, the entire process falters.  Another gene that is critical to the process is STI1 which adapts the ribosome-created proteins to a form that the cell can utilize.  So if WDR36 doesn’t produce ribosomes properly AND STI1 doesn’t “package” properly – the 2 mutations synergistically cause glaucoma.

Learn more about glaucoma

Researcher: Dr. Michael Walter and associates, University of Alberta, Department of Medical Genetics in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

Published:  “Genetic Sleuth Solves Glaucoma Mystery”, University of Alberta Express News, March 20, 2009

 

 

Some sight restored with artificial bionic eye

The 73-year-old, known only as Ron, had the experimental surgery seven months ago at London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital and is now able to see flashes of light, follow white lines on the road, and sort grey and black socks.

The eye known as the Argus II, which was developed by US company Second Sight, uses a miniature camera mounted on glasses to transmit images to the back of the eye.

An “artificial retina” consisting of an array of electrodes sends messages along the optic nerve to the brain.

So far 18 patients around the world have undergone the surgery as part of trials and Ron, who lost his sight in his forties due to the hereditary eye disorder retinitis pigmentosa, was one of three patients to have the device fitted at the London hospital.

As he starts to get use to the device his life will be transformed even more as he gradually learns how to use the artificial eye.

He said: ‘For 30 years I’ve seen absolutely nothing at all, it’s all been black – but now light is coming through.

‘It gives me grades of bright light to black and anything in between. I can actually sort out white socks, grey socks and black socks.’

Update, Another Bionic Eye Report

Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) has unveiled its wide-view neurostimulator concept – a prototype bionic eye that will be implanted into Australia’s first recipient of the technology. BVA says that the prototype will deliver improved quality of life for patients suffering from degenerative vision loss caused by retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. The implant, which consists of a miniature camera mounted on glasses that captures visual input, transforming it into electrical signals that directly stimulate surviving neurons in the retina, is currently undergoing testing. Says BVA, the device will enable recipients to perceive points of light in the visual field that the brain can then reconstruct into an image.