March, 2008

• Lycopene and Macular Degeneration
• Are You Color Blind?
• Lutein & Eye Health
• Increased use of CT scans fuels radiation worries
• Cranberry: Natural Protection for Urinary Health
• Tomato Juice Significantly Reduces LDL Cholesterol
• Berry Good Waffles - Strawberries, Blueberries, etc

Lycopene and Macular Degeneration Prevention

Persons who had the lowest serum levels of lycopene, the most abundant carotenoid in the serum, were twice as likely to have macular degeneration when compared to those with the highest levels. Mares-Perlman, et al. Arch Ophthalmol 1995 Dec;113(12):1518-23 (Ed. Note: Consumption of high levels of lutein and lycopene (a carotenoid found in tomatoes) has also been associated with dramatically lower cancer rates for lung and prostate cancer!)

Are You Color Blind?

What is color blindness?

Color blindness, or color vision deficiency is the inability to perceive differences between some of the colors that other people can distinguish. We have "photoreceptor cells" in the back of our eyes called "rods" and "cones." The rod cells are more active in low light and account for night vision and distinctions of grey. The cone cells are more active in light and account for our more fine vision and color perception (a combination of blue, green and red receptors).

When your cones don't work properly, or you don't have the right combination blue, green and red receptors, your brain doesn't get the right message about which colors you're seeing. For example, for someone who's color-blind, he/she might have trouble distinguishing the colors of a traffic light, or a green leaf might look tan or grey.

There are about 120 million rods in one retina of a human eye, about 20 times the number of cones.

Color blindness is almost always inherited.

Here is a simple test to test for color blindness - http://www.flixster.com/user/efrayaacov/quiz/color-blindness-test-efra-made

Lutein and Eye Health

Lutein is a carotenoid (nutrient that gives color to related vegetables such as spinach, kale and other green vegetables), and has been found in research studies to be directly related to the health of the retina and lens of the eyes.

Lutein is most often hailed as a possible way to protect eyes from macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older people. A landmark Dutch study of men showed that taking 10 milligrams of lutein daily for three months increased thickness in the eye's center (macula) by 22%, presumably reducing its vulnerability to damage and loss of vision.

Researchers at Harvard found eating 6mg of lutein a day (roughly 1/4 cup cooked spinach) lowered the odds of macular degeneration by 43%.

Remarkably, eating sauteed spinach four to seven times a week for three months even reversed some very early signs of the disease, according to a small study by Stuart Richer, Ph.D., at the DVA Medical Center in North Chicago, IL.

Loading up on lutein also seems to reduce the odds of cataracts by 20% to 50%, according to several studies.

Other benefits include the following:

A recent study by Tufts University and Korean investigators revealed a dramatic 88% drop in breast cancer in women who had the highest blood concentrations of lutein.

Researchers at the University of Utah Medical School found that the highest consumers of lutein (a mere 2.4mg daily) were 17% less likely to develop colon cancer than those who ate the least (300 micrograms). Generally, the more lutein consumed, the lower the risk. High lutein also has been linked to fewer lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

A University of Southern California professor, James H. Dwyer, compared the carotid (neck) arteries of middle-aged people. In 18 months, people with the lowest blood lutein had four times the carotid thickening of people with the highest levels. (Thickening is a sign of blood-vessel clogging throughout the body.) Probable reason: Cells bathed in lutein were less likely to help "bad" LDL cholesterol stick to artery walls.

Food Sources of Lutein:

Best food sources Per 1/2 cup:

Editor's Note: Zeaxanthin is a sister carotenoid of lutein, and studies are now indicating it may be even more important in protecting our central vision by supporting retinal health. Our new Advanced Eye and Vision Support formula which is completely whole food based contains 3 mg of lutein and 6 mg of zeaxanthin per capsule, along with a wide range of other essential nutrients for the eyes. Can be taken along with your multivitamin.

Increased use of CT scans fuels radiation worries

The number of Americans undergoing CT scans has increased dramatically in recent years, driving a significant increase in the amount of radiation that many people are being exposed to from medical procedures.

That trend is raising concern that the high-tech exams could cause a small but significant excess of cancers in coming decades and spurring debate about whether the increasingly ubiquitous tests are being overused, exposing millions of Americans to needless risk.

For full article, go to http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=6407

N-acetylcysteine helps protect kidneys from contrast agents used during imaging scans

The results of a meta-analysis published in the February 19, 2008 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine found that N-acetylcysteine works better than other agents to help prevent kidney damage (nephropathy) caused by iodine-containing dyes known as contrast agents which are used to enhance the visualization of organs or other structures during CT scans, angiograms and other imaging scans. Contrast-induced nephropathy is diagnosed when blood creatinine, an indicator of kidney function, increases 25 percent or more within 48 hours following contrast agent administration.

Reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine at http://www.annals.org/contents-by-date.0.shtml

Cranberry: Natural Protection for Urinary Health

Healthnotes Newswire (March 6, 2008) - Cranberry juice has long been a popular natural remedy for urinary tract infections (UTIs), and now a recent review suggests that cranberries in juice or capsule form may help prevent them, particularly in women who have repeated infections.

A new review looked at studies evaluating the effects of cranberry juice or tablets in preventing UTIs, and compared them with the effects of water or a placebo. Both the juice and tablets were most effective in preventing infections in younger women with recurrent infections. They had less effect in other groups of people who experience frequent urinary tract infections, such as the elderly and people whose urinary tracts are catheterized for chronic medical conditions.

There is some evidence that cranberry juice may decrease the number of symptomatic UTIs over a 12-month period, particularly for women with recurrent UTIs,” said Ruth Jepson and colleagues from the University of Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom.

For full article, go to http://www.emersonecologics.com/Newswire.asp?id=1239
Study reference: (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub4)

Tomato Juice Significantly Reduces LDL Cholesterol

A three-week baseline diet included no tomato products. During the next three-weeks, subjects were instructed to consume 13.5 ounces of tomato juice and once ounce of ketchup per day. The results of the study were that those who consumed the tomato juice had a 6% reductions in Total Cholesteril (TD), and a 13% decline in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL).

The lowering of the cholesterol correlated positively with uptake of lycopene (meaning the higher the rise in serum lycopene, the better the lipid lowering effect) which is in the tomato juice.Another nutrient called Tomatine in also in tomatoes. Animal studies have demonstrated this nutrient to have potential lower LDL benefits as well.

Reference: Silaste ML, Alfthan G, Aro A, et al. Tomato juice decreases LDL cholesterol levels and increases LDL resistance to oxidation. Br J Nutr 2007;98:1251-8.

Editor's Note: Lycopenes are bioflavenoids present in tomatoes and other red fruit such as watermelons, pink grapefruit, apricots and pink guavas, and is responsible for giving tomatoes their red color. It is closely related to beta carotene, and has twice the free radical fighting potency.

Low serum levels of lycopene have been associated with having twice the risk of getting macular degeneration (see study above).

Berry Good Waffles

With berries or without, these waffles are easy to make and simply delicious. Serve with maple syrup or hot Strawberry Sauce for a divine breakfast.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings 4 waffles (about 4-inches)]

• Preheat the waffle iron.
• Break the eggs into a large mixing bowl, and beat with a fork or whisk until smooth. Stir in flour, baking powder, sea salt, apple juice, canola oil, vanilla, berries, and honey if using.
• If the waffle iron does not have a nonstick surface, brush it with oil. Ladle enough batter to cover the bottom surface of the iron and cook until golden brown. 5. Serve hot with your favorite topping: maple syrup, yogurt, or fruit sauce.
For a Change . . .
* For chocolate chip waffles, substitute 1 cup dark, milk, or white chocolate chips for the berries.
* For carob chip waffles, substitute 1 cup carob chips for the berries.
* Add 2-4 more eggs to increase the protein.


From Leslie Cerier's new cookbook, Going Wild in the Kitchen (2005, Square One Publishers) - http://members.aol.com/lescerier/pages/cookbooks.html