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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An observational 10-year study of more than 35,000 middle-aged U.S. women observed the women’s use of dietary supplements and occurrence of cataracts.*

The study found significant evidence that women who got more lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E were less likely to develop cataracts than women who are lacking intake of these nutrients. In fact, the women who got the most lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E were 18% less likely to get cataracts.

Archives of Ophthalmology (Arch. Ophthalmol. 2008;126:102-9) gathered from the Women’s Health Study.

For more related research studies, go to www.naturaleyecare.com

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A new study provides further evidence that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
A NIH-funded study group led by Dr. Chi-Chao Chan at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, examined the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on a mouse model of AMD. Mice that were given a diet including high levels of omega-3 fatty acids showed slower retinal lesion progression, with improvement in some lesions.

Study authors suggest that the results “further provide the scientific basis for the application of omega-3 fatty acids and their biologically active derivatives in the prevention and treatment of AMD.”

Excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids include cold water oily fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines.

SOURCE: Tuo J, et al: A high omega-3 fatty acid diet reduces retinal lesions in a murine model of macular degeneration, Am J Pathol 2009 175: 799-807.

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A new study shows increased intake of whole grains and bran is associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of hypertension in men.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reviewed data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study involving 31,684 healthy men aged 40 to 75 without known hypertension, cancer, stroke, or coronary heart disease. These participants were followed for 18 years, during which 9,227 cases of incident hypertension were recorded.

Researchers found that whole-grain intake reduced the risk of hypertension by 19%, while intake of bran reduced the risk of hypertension by 15%.

Study authors believe these findings have implications for future dietary guidelines and prevention of hypertension.

SOURCE: “Whole grains and incident hypertension in men”, Flint, et al, Am J Clin Nutr (July 1, 2009). doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27460

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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

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