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Latest News: May, 2009, New Treatments

Consumption of Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Significantly Reduce the Risk of Developing Macular Degeneration

According to a new study, consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-3 rich fish could significantly reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 40 per cent.

This study, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, also adds further support for increasing the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids with the finding that arachidonic acid (AA, omega-6 fatty acid) is associated with an increased risk of AMD.

"These results and those from other observational analytic investigations suggest that modifying diet to include more food rich in omega-3 [long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids] could result in a reduction in the risk of having [severe] AMD," wrote the researchers from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group.

Source: Archives of Ophthalmology:

May 125, Volume 125, Pages 661-669

Editor's Note: Due to high levels of mercury and other contaminants in farm fed fish (only fish such as wild pacific salmon are recommended for regular consumption), we recommend getting your daily dosage of fish oil through high quality processed fish oil.

Here's an excellent fish oil supplement.

We also recommend our Advanced Eye and Vision Support (whole food) Formula.

Consumption of Red Meat Linked to Macular Degeneration

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests a diet heavy in red meat may increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia evaluated associations between red meat and chicken intake and AMD, in a cohort study of 6,734 people aged 58 to 69. Meat intake was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire; bilateral digital macular photographs were taken and evaluated for AMD. Of the group, 1,680 participants had cases of early AMD and 77 had cases of late AMD.

It was discovered that participants who ate 10 or more portions of red meat each week were nearly 50 percent more likely to experience deterioration of the retina. Participants who consumed chicken at least three times a week reduced the risk by more than 50 percent.

Study authors suggested that �different meats may differently affect AMD risk and may be a target for lifestyle modification.�

SOURCE: "Red Meat and Chicken Consumption and Its Association With Age-related Macular Degeneration", Chong, et al, American Journal of Epidemiology 2009 169(7):867-876.

Editor's Note: See more information on Macular Degeneration and prevention.

Editor's Note2: See an excellent whole food formula for retinal health.

Acupuncture for Your Eyes

A small study by Japanese researchers demonstrates an increased blood supply to the retina upon stimulation of certain acupuncture points. Needles were inserted near the posterior base of the thumbs of volunteers while investigators used a laser to scan the retinal blood flow. Both volume and velocity increased in these patients. The work was done at the ophthalmology department at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.

Reported by Dr. Kazuhiko Mori at the annual meeting of the Association for Vision and Ophthalmology in Fort Lauderdale this past May.

Alcohol, Omega-3 Fats, and Heart Health

Red wine and grapes contain polyphenols called procyanidins that act as powerful antioxidants and have been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. Procyanidins are also found in berries like bilberry and blueberry and are also found in pine bark, has been associated in research with possible benefits for diabetic health. Chronic inflammation is also believed to contribute to eye diseases like AMD, dry eye and glaucoma conditions in which procyanidins may merit further study.

The heart benefits of the traditional Mediterranean diet high in fish, fresh produce and red wine, have been well documented. A new study, part of the European IMMIDIET project, has shed new light on one of red wine's positive cardiovascular benefits.

High dietary and plasma concentrations of the marine fatty acids EPA and DHA are known to be protective against coronary heart disease (CHD) and sudden cardiac death. Alcohol, too, lowers the risk of ischemic stroke and CHD via a number of proposed pathways: increasing HDL, decreasing platelet aggregation and coagulation factors and exerting beneficial effects on endothelial function and inflammation.

Evidence also suggests that alcohol influences fatty acid metabolism. Low alcohol intake appears to increase long-chain fatty acid concentrations, while high alcohol decreases their concentration. Alcohol-induced increases in marine fatty acids might be a unique cardio-protective mechanism of alcohol.

The study findings suggest that components in wine other than alcohol may be responsible for the higher omega-3 concentrations observed. The study authors propose that the polyphenol antioxidant components of wine may stimulate the synthesis of EPA and DHA from the precursor alpha-linolenic acid. Polyphenols may also be involved in that process by preventing alcohol-induced oxidation of long chain fatty acids, thus delaying their breakdown.

Editor's Note: See an excellent fish oil supplement.

Migraines and Vitamin B

New research from Australia, links supplements B6 and B12, and folic acid to a decrease in migraines. According to findings to be published in an upcoming issue of Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, scientists recruited 52 people diagnosed with migraine with aura. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin supplements of 2mg of folic acid, 25mg vitamin B6, 400 micrograms of B12, or a placebo, for six months. Results showed a reduction in homocysteine levels by 39%, compared to baseline, and statistically significant compared to placebo.

The supplements were also associated with a reduction in the prevalence of migraine disability from 60% at the start of the study to 30% after 6 months. Reductions in the frequency of the headache and the severity of the pain were also observed in people in the B vitamin group, while no such changes were observed in the placebo group.

Supplements and Asthma

A new study suggests that the combination of supplements omega-3, vitamin C and zinc, may improve the symptoms of childhood asthma. The findings of this randomized, double blind, placebo-self-controlled crossover trial were published in Acta P�diatrica.

The children were randomly assigned to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3, zinc, and vitamin C, either singly or in combination for six weeks. Research noted that omega-3 and zinc have anti-inflammatory effects. Zinc may also help regular the T-cell lymphocytes, which are part of the body�s allergy response. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and may counteract oxidant stress and reduce the external bacteria, virus and toxins in the lungs.

Research showed that these three supplements had a significant improvement on the participants in their asthma control test, pulmonary function tests and pulmonary inflammatory markers.

DHA reduces tumor growth

In an article published online on April 1, 2009 in the journal Cell Division, Egyptian researchers report that the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in fish and the algae they consume, not only offers its own protection against tumor growth, but improves the chemotherapeutic effects of cisplatin while reducing its toxicity.

"In essence, the renal protective and animal rescuing effects obtained for DHA, as well as its capacity to ameliorate leukocytosis, oxidant stress and inflammation, further substantiate its produced chemoprevention/chemo-enhancing profiles," they conclude. "This could, therefore, suggest a new fruitful drug regimen in the management of solid tumors based on combining cisplatin with DHA."

Editor's Note: Here's a high quality DHA.

Also, see our vegetarian DHA.

Using Illusions Can Help Speed Recovery of a Paralyzed Limb

Using a mirror to create the illusion that a person's paralyzed limb moves in tandem with a healthy one appears to speed recovery from stroke, a Japanese researcher said Friday.

The finding showed the optical illusion works faster than conventional treatment and suggests the mind plays a powerful role in the body's recovery, Kazu Amimoto of Tokyo Metropolitan University told the World Stroke Conference in Vienna.

"The mental aspect of rehabilitation, has far greater importance than previously understood and should be paid far more attention," Amimoto said in a statement.

Hemiplegia, a condition in which one half of a person's body is paralyzed, is one of the most common long-term consequences of stroke and one of the biggest challenges for rehabilitation.

Conventional therapy seeks to restore mobility and movement by concentrating directly on the paralyzed half of the body using physical exercises and stimulation.

In the new therapy, the researchers placed a mirror on the middle of a person's body so that movements from the healthy limbs made it appear as if the paralyzed arms and legs were moving in similar fashion.

This optical illusion had a far greater effect stimulating the brain and improving motor function in the paralyzed part of the body, Amimoto said.

Eating Dark Chocolate May Help You Live Longer

Eating dark chocolate regularly may help lower levels of inflammation, which is strongly associated with heart and blood vessel disease, Italian researchers report.

"In an apparently healthy population, even a small reduction of a low-grade inflammation such as that associated in this study with regular consumption of dark chocolate might have clinically relevant benefits in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease," Dr. Romina di Giuseppe of Catholic University in Campobasso write in the current issue of The Journal of Nutrition.

The presence of inflammation was determined by measuring levels C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker for coronary artery disease, the researchers explain in their report. Di Giuseppe and her team hypothesized that people who eat more dark chocolate, which is rich in several types of antioxidants, might have lower CRP levels.

The benefits were seen when people ate up to one 20-gram serving of dark chocolate every 3 days, but eating more chocolate wasn't more beneficial; in fact, effects on CRP levels "tended to disappear" at higher consumption levels, the researchers found.

SOURCE: The Journal of Nutrition, September 23, 2008.

Editor's Note: Some of the best dark organic chocolate we have tried are: Green and Blacks 85%, Rapunzel, Dagoba, and Endangered Species dark chocolate.

Spicy North African Vegetable Soup with Chickpeas

There are dozens of different basil varieties from which to choose. The delicate sweet-flavored "sacred basil" called for in this soup is commonly used in the cuisines of Africa, India, and the Far East. Although sacred basil is recommended in this recipe, you can use any basil variety.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

2 quarts water
2 cups cooked chickpeas
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic, thickly sliced
1/2 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
1 cup coarsely chopped onions
1/2 cup coarsely chopped carrots
2 1/2 cups coarsely chopped unpeeled sweet potatoes
2 cups bite-sized cauliflower florets
1 teaspoon tumeric
3 cups coarsely chopped mustard greens
2 tablespoons dried sacred basil or other basil variety
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

Bring the water, chickpeas and cinnamon stick to boil in a 6-quart stockpot. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the cinnamon stick uncurls.
While the chickpeas simmer, heat in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, chili flakes, onions and carrots, and saute, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, or until the onions begin to soften.
When the cinnamon stick uncurls, transfer the sauteed vegetables to the stockpot along with the sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and tumeric. Simmer covered for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes and cauliflower are tender.
Add the mustard greens and continue to simmer 2 to 3 minutes, or until bright green. Stir in the basil and salt. Adjust the seasonings, if desired.
Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve.

For more recipes, see LeslieCerier.com.

Health and Peace

Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac.
Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac.
visionworksusa@earthlink.net
www.naturaleyecare.com
(845) 255-8222