What are phytochemicals?
Plant-based biochemicals protect our bodies with respect to both overall health and wellbeing and longevity. Natural compounds produced by plants, known as phytochemicals, exert a protective and therapeutic effect against pathological changes in body tissue that may be not only a result of disease, but a cause of disease.[1. Khalaj L, Nejad SC, Mohammadi M, Zadeh SS, Pour MH, et al. (2013). Assessing Competence of Broccoli Consumption on Inflammatory and Antioxidant Pathways in Restraint-Induced Models: Estimation in Rat Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex. Biomed Res Int. 2013;590379.] Continue reading “Eating More Broccoli Could Protect Your Brain From Aging”

Instead of getting eye injections, patients with serious eye diseases may in the near future be eligible for a contact lens-type patch.[1. Aung Than, Chenghao Liu, Hao Chang, Phan Khanh Duong, Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung, Chenjie Xu, Xiaomeng Wang, Peng Chen. Self-implantable double-layered micro-drug-reservoirs for efficient and controlled ocular drug delivery. Nature Communications, 2018; 9 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06981-w] Injections are often recommended for eye diseases such as Wet (advanced) Age-Related Macular Degeneration, macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy. The new patch is inserted painlessly like a contact lens. It delivers tiny microneedles containing medication. The microneedles are made from natural materials and dissolve over time, gradually releasing medicine. Patients would be more likely to stick with a regimen that does not involve eye injections.
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy can lead to vision loss from angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the growth of unwanted blood vessels in the retina. These excess blood vessels obscure or distort vision and damage the eye. They can result in permanent damage if not treated, typically by injection of EyLea, Avastin, or Lucentis. Macular Degeneration (ARMD) and Diabetic Retinopathy are most prevalent among seniors over age 60. Are there any natural methods to help retard the growth of extra blood vessels in the eye? 
The world is changing. Our concepts of western medicine have shifted over the past 30 years. Today’s public wants a more comprehensive, integrated approach from health care providers.
Have you ever noticed specks or clouds in your field of vision? They are most likely eye floaters. Floaters can look like cobwebs, blobs, dots, or little insects that float around. Eye floaters can be semi-transparent or darker. If you have them, they are more noticeable in certain lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight. You might not notice them at all unless you are looking for them.
A study published in the February 2019 issue of Aging Cell indicates that metformin may reduce the effectiveness of exercise. Metformin is a drug that has been approved for people with Type 2 diabetes to help control blood sugar. However, the drug is also used by healthy people for its anti-aging properties. The researchers are concerned about off-label use of this drug.
Parkinson’s disease is a multi-neurological disease. Currently, most Parkinson’s treatments focus on increasing dopamine production and reducing motor symptoms and tremors through medication. However, this disease has many causative or contributing factors that cause changes in healthy brain function. Many of these factors are also relevant for dementia, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Wilson’s diseases as well. Which factors impact brain functioning and the development of brain disease? Are there natural approaches to preventing and slowing the progress of such devastating diseases? This article offers a brief overview, based on the new book, Natural Parkinson’s Support: Your Guide to Preventing and Managing Parkinson’s.
Researchers are finding that food and supplements containing nattokinase may reverse atherosclerosis. Current treatments for hardening of the arteries slow down the progression of heart disease. Effectively reversing atherosclerotic lesions would be a dream come true for drug manufacturers. Nattokinase is the most active ingredient in natto. Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans. Could we increase our longevity by consuming natto or nattokinase supplements?