Gout is a painful form arthritis marked by joint inflammation that is most likely to affect older men.  Uric acid in the bloodstream has been implicated in attacks of gout.  Levels rise in men after puberty but estrogen is thought to protect many women from the condition.

Genetics is generally blamed for gout, a rich but changes to the diet can affect the course of the disease.  A poor diet without adequate fruits and vegetables and too much fat from meat can increase the risk of an attack.  Avoid foods called  purines including many organ meats, legumes and yeast.

For more about gout, click here.

The right diet can influence all aspects of your health.  Please read more about the best sources of nutrients for eye health and overall wellness.

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Pumpkin seed oil is rich in zeaxanthin, which protects the retina and slow the progress of macular degeneration. In 2003, the Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton in England announced that zeaxanthin “may be far more important in preventing or stabilizing macular degeneration than previously realized.” For more on zeaxanthin, visit our website.

Another benefit of pumpkin seed oil?  Used in combination with saw palmetto it can reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).   Researchers have suggested the zinc, free fatty acid, or plant sterol content of pumpkin seeds may account for their benefit in men with BPH, but this has not been confirmed. For more on BPH and prostate health, please click here.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_5106341_health-benefits-pumpkin-seed-oil.html#ixzz0s6uN19rb

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Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published findings on Americans’ salt consumption: only 1 in 10 people are staying within the recommended guidelines.   One teaspoon of salt per day is the recommended limit for those who are young and healthy.   Most of this salt is not coming from what we sprinkle directly on our food.  Instead, it comes from sources we might not expect: grain mixtures, frozen meals and soups; ham, bacon, sausages and lunchmeats; breads; meat, poultry and fish mixtures; and cakes, cookies and crackers.

Source: NPR.

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Caffeine has been proven to increase one’s risk of developing osteoporosis, but some studies have shown that those who drink tea regularly are less likely to develop the disease. Scientists believe that the flavonoids in tea may have a protective effect. Other foods that tend to increase one’s risk of osteoporosis include soft drinks, salt, alcohol, and sugar. Food that can reduce your chances of developing the disease: soy, leafy green vegetables, sardines, and salmon.

Believe it or not, the answer when it comes to whether you should or should not rely on dairy products to help reduce your risk is “it depends.” Choose low-fat milk rather than American cheese or cottage cheese.

See more on diet and osteoporosis and an overview of the disease.

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New study published online and in the August print issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, found that smoking and cholesterol levels affect the risk for early-stage age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Editor’s Note: For information on nutrition, diet and macular degeneration, Click Here

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New study found that women who eat foods that contain high levels of a variety of vitamins and minerals may be less likely to develop nuclear cataract, which is the most common type of age-related cataract in the United States.

This study indicates that healthy diets, which reflect adherence to the U.S. dietary guidelines, are more strongly related to the lower occurrence of nuclear cataracts than any other modifiable risk factor or protective factor studied in this sample of women

The study is published in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology

Editor’s Note: For more information on diet and nutrition related to cataracts Click Here

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The use of tanning booths has been linked to skin cancer, but the UV exposure from tanning devices has also been linked to cancer of the eye or ocular melanoma.  The US Food and Drug Administration states: “Exposure to UV radiation can cause irreversible damage to the eyes.”  One study links the use of tanning beds to retinal and corneal burns that lead to permanent vision loss.

Click here for information on a study about how eating leafy greens can help protect eyes from UV radiation.

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A new study out of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway, which was published in Arthritis Care & Research, reports that women who are obese (BMI of 30 or larger) have a 60 to 70 percent higher risk of developing fibromyalgia, compared to women who are not obese.  Researchers state that fibromyalgia was especially among women who also reported low levels of physical exercise.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is marked by a dull aching pain and tenderness in the muscles and soft tissue, and is characterized by persistent fatigue.   Memory problems, disturbed, and irritable bowel syndrome are included amongst other common symptoms.

Source reference: Paul J. Mork, et al “Association between physical exercise, body mass index, and risk of fibromyalgia: Longitudinal data from the Norwegian Nord-Trøndelag Health Study” Arthritis Care and Research 2010; 62:5,  611 – 617.

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It was once thought that our our health and well-being was predetermined by the DNA we inherited from our parents and ancestors.  The new field of Epigenetics now defines our health in both nature and nurture.

Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity that do not involve alterations to the genetic code but still get passed down to at least one successive generation.

These patterns of gene expression are governed by the cellular material — the epigenome — that sits on top of the genome, just outside it.  It is these epigenetic “marks” that tell your genes to switch on or off. It is through epigenetic marks that environmental factors like diet, stress and prenatal nutrition can make an imprint on genes that is passed from one generation to the next, affecting both the current and future generations — meaning how well we are nourished both emotionally and dietwise when we are young genetically affects both our future state of health as well as that of our future generations.

This field of science may well be able to explain ultimately why only one of two people with the same genetic disposition for getting a particular disease actually end up having that disease expressed.

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Scientists at MIT and other research organizations are testing chip technologies that could help bring eyesight to individuals with conditions like age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

Microchips place onto or inside the eyeball are assisted by a pair of electronic glasses the patient wears. Results vary, but many subjects report significant improvement in orientation and mobility. MIT hopes to have a device within two years so that they can get FDA approval from for use on chronic patients.

See information on macular degeneration, nutrition and health.

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