Archives: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

January, 2012

Diabetic Retinopathy

People with diabetes are at high risk of developing diabetic retinophathy, an eye condition that occurs when the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the retina are damaged, resulting in the leaking of blood and other fluids. This causes swelling that could lead to permanent vision loss.

A recent survey by the American Optometric Association showed that 55 percent of people are not aware there are often no symptoms associated with diabetic eye disease. The same survey revealed 44 percent of Americans don't realize a person with diabetes should have comprehensive yearly exams.

It is essential that people with diabetes get annual eye exams, as diabetic retinopathy may be happening without initial symptoms, including changes of vision, especially a shower of dots, threads, webs.

Editor's Note: Diet, lifestyle and targeted supplementation can significantly reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy, as well as help preserve vision for those with diabetic retinopathy. Essential nutrients include: alpha lipoic acid, bilberry, chromium, essential fatty acids, gingko biloba, taurine, vitamin B12, vitamin C and E.

For more informations on recommendations see Diabetic Retinopathy, diet, lifestyle and nutrition.

AMD-like lesions delayed in mice fed lower glycemic index diet

Feeding older mice a lower glycemic index (GI) diet consisting of slowly-digested carbohydrates delays the onset of age-related, sight-threatening retinal lesions, according to a new study from the Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University.

The researchers studied middle-aged and older mice that consumed either a higher or lower GI diet. Mice fed the lower GI diet developed fewer and less-severe age-related lesions in the retina than the mice fed the higher GI diet. The lesions included basal laminar deposits, which typically develop after age 60 in the human retina and are the earliest warning sign of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

The dietary glycemic index (DGI) measures the rate at which glucose is delivered to the bloodstream after consuming carbohydrates. Higher GI foods including white bread and white potatoes trigger a rapid delivery of glucose that pushes the body to work overtime to absorb, whereas lower GI foods, like whole grain bread and fruits and vegetables, initiate a slower release of glucose that is more easily processed by cells..

This study was published online in October in the journal Aging Cell.

Editor's Note: This may fit into the bigger pattern of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and related eye diseases as being caused by chronic inflammation (possibly due to our high glycemic diets). Foods high on the glycemic index include for example all the white foods (white rice, pasta, bread, sugar) which is consumed in high quantities in the American diet. Remember we evolved around eating primarily plant foods and meat (not carbohydrates or for that matter any refined foods).

The more alkaline a food source is, the more it tends toward being anti-inflammatory. The more acidic, the more inflammatory (see food chart below).

See the Alkaline / Acidic Food Chart

Eggplant and Similar Plant Extracts Used for Treating Cancer Since 1825

The incidence of skin cancer has risen 300% since 1992. Studies are showing impressive results in the treatment of large basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using a cream formulation of BEC (eggplant extract) twice a day. The most recent study was published by Dr. Cham, published in the International Journal of Clinical Medicine (http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=7563).

In the first case, treatment with the eggplant-extract cream resulted in rapid break down of the tumor. After two weeks, the lesion was reduced to about half its original size, and after 14 weeks the cancer was clinically eliminated with no scar tissue formation. Even the hairs had regrown where the tumor was originally. In the second case, after six weeks of treatment with eggplant-extract cream the large skin cancer lesion appeared "cleaner" and some of the cancerous tissue had been replaced with normal tissue. In another three weeks, the lesion was much smaller and more normal tissue was apparent. After a total of 14 weeks, the lesion was completely eliminated with no scar tissue present.

BEC5 eggplant extract kills only cancerous cells, leaving healthy cells alone.

The following nutrients in foods (and supplements) can help protect against cancer: beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, flavenoids, proanthocyanadins, cruciferous vegetables, and nutrients found in green and black tea, garlic, oregano and cocoa.

Statin Drugs and Muscle Injury

A recent study published in the The American Journal of Cardiology (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22036108) suggested that people on statin drugs have higher susceptibility to exercise-induced muscle injury from statin use as one's age increases.

Other research has shown the following negative effects:

increases one's risk of a stroke due to weakening of heart muscle function.
increases one's risk of diabetes (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21693744)
are contraindicated for pregnancy

Other negative effects include: cognitive loss, neuropathy, anemia, cataracts, pancreatic dysfunction, acidosis, frequent fever, sexual dysfunction, suppressed immune system, muscle problems and possibly an increase risk of cancer.

Anyone taking statins needs to supplement with CoQ10. The Ubiquinol form is one of the best forms to take CoQ10. Low levels of CoQ10 can result in increased free radicals, loss of cellular energy, and damaged mitochondrial DNA.

Editor's Note: The following indicators are more relevant in terms of risk of heart disease than total cholesterol (unless 330 or higher). The HDL is a far more potent indicator for heart disease risk as follows:

HDL/Total Cholesterol Ratio: Should ideally be above 24 percent. If below 10 percent, you have a significantly elevated risk for heart disease.
Triglyceride/HDL Ratio
C-Reactive Protein Levels - research shows that heart disease can often be traced to chronic levels of inflammation.

For an excellent CoQ10, see Ubiquinol CoQ10.

Energy Drinks Send Thousands to the ER Each Year

Visits to the emergency room increased 10-fold from 2005 related to energy drink intake, according to a new government report. In 2005, there were 1,128 ER visits compared to 13,114 in 2009.

While 44% of cases involved energy drinks in combination with alcohol or other drugs, most people who wound up in the ER told doctors they had downed only energy drinks.

Although the energy drinks claim to have no more caffeine than a cup of coffee.

Editor's Note: Normally in a otherwise healthy individual, one should wake up with energy and be able to go through the day without the need of strong stimulants such as energy energy drinks. These strong caffeinated drinks taken over time can tax our adrenal system and contribute to eventual chronic fatigue.

There are times though that day sitting all day at a desk at work for example can be draining and cause a sense of fatigue. It is important to get up, stretch and take a short, brisk walk outside.

If one needs a natural energy food without caffeine, take a look at our VisionBoost Formula which we created as a natural, wild crafted herbal alternative formula to the high energy caffeine drinks sold. Our formula supports the adrenal gland and vision with great herbs such as: gingko biloba, siberian ginseng, green tea, American ginseng, plus a range of nutrients to help relieve tired eyes and general health.

The Optimal Form of Vitamin D

Vitamin D3 is the optimal form of Vitamin D in which to supplement. Vitamin D2 is poorly absorbed, and may actually have negative benefits versus Vitamin D3.

In a recent meta-analysis by the Cochrane Database, the results of the study were as follows:

A six percent relative risk reduction among those who used vitamin D3, but
A two percent relative risk increase among those who used D2

Ref: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21735411

The benefits of proper Vitamin D3 levels in the body include the following: reduce risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Eczema & Psoriasis, and much more.

Proper blood levels are as follows:

Deficient: less the 5 ng/ml
Optimal: 50-70 ng/ml
For cancer and heart disease: 70-100 ng/ml
Excess: greater than 100 ng/ml

If appropriate tanning is not feasible, then you'll be wise to consider an oral vitamin D3 supplement. According to the most recent findings by Carole Baggerly, founder of GrassrootsHealth, her research of nearly 10,000 people shows the ideal adult dose appears to be 8,000 IU's a day to get most into the healthy range.

It is important to check your blood levels to determine the optimum supplement amount for yourself.

Medications can cause serious issues for elderly

Each year adverse reactions to medications cause approximately 100,000 emergency hospital visits for American adults 65 and older. The figure comes from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study found that a small group of diabetes medications and drugs to prevent blood clots were causing about two-thirds of the hospitalizations, according to a news release issued by the CDC. Some of the drugs included: warfarin (for clot prevention), insulin (for diabetes to control sugar), oral diabetes medications and antiplatelet drugs (for clot prevention). Together, these medication types accounted for more than 70 percent of the hospitalizations.

Editor's Note: Often seniors are on multiple medications, resulting in new medications being prescribed to treat physical or mental symptoms associated with the side effects of the medications being taken. The side effects of multiple medications can often mimic serious health conditions including: dementia, dizziness, palpitations and/or fatigue to name a few.

Seniors often have multiple doctors handling different conditions, and the doctors may not be careful enough about checking the contraindications of the drugs the seniors are on before prescribing additional drugs. See RXList for checking drug information yourself.

The cancer danger in canned food

Independent research undertaken by the Breast Cancer Fund has uncovered harmful levels of Bisphenol A - or BPA - in a range of popular canned goods. (see http://www.breastcancerfund.org/media/press-releases/bpa-in-thanksgiving-food.html for study).

Food from tinned packaged foods commonly consumed throughout the festive season include: cranberry sauce, corn, green beans and evaporated milk. Scientists found significant doses of the potentially dangerous chemical in tinned packaged food, which has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

BPA is common component of polycarbonate plastic used to make food containers, microwave ovenware, kitchen utensils and some baby bottles. It is also used in the epoxy-resin linings of tin cans to form a barrier between the metal and the food and prevent bacterial contamination.

It may be that just one plate of your holiday favorites could deliver a potentially harmful dose of BPA.

Salk researchers discover potential Alzheimer's drug

A scientific team at the Salk Institute say they've developed a drug that, in a mouse model of Alzheimer's, provides strong protection against the memory loss and dementia associated with Alzheimer's. The drug, called J147, also appears to be safe for animals, and presumably humans, so it could be ready for humans in a couple of years.

According to Marguerite Prior, a research associate in the lab of Dave R. Schubert, head of Salk's Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, "The drug not only prevents memory loss, but reduces the brain cell degeneration associated with Alzheimer's. No drug on the market can do both".

One of these drug candidates was derived from curcumin, a chemical found in the spice turmeric. Curcumin has been studied for years because of evidence it provides some protective effect against Alzheimer's, as well as potentially some cancers and strokes. The original molecule has been altered to increase effectiveness, so it is now quite different from the natural compound, according to Marguerite Prior.

Unfortunately, the drug testing process may take 2-3 years before being tested on humans.