Diabetes And Your Vision (2)

I think the best thing you can do – even if you haven't been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – is to control your blood sugar. I say this because about 86 million people in the U.S. are pre-diabetic. If you're one of them, you're walking a fine line.

Try to avoid high-glycemic carbohydrates and processed foods is top priority. This includes foods like breakfast cereals, breads, pastas and soft drinks that make your blood sugar soar.

 Staying active and getting your body in motion is also important. A good half hour walk every day interspersed with bursts of intensity is a good starting point.

Also, supplementing with something called chlorogenic acid could benefit greatly. This natural compound helps block the absorption of sugar in your intestines. And it even goes a step further. It also suppresses your liver from producing glucose after a meal.

You probably already get a little bit of chlorogenic acid in your diet. That's because it naturally occurs in coffee and tea. But it's probably not enough.

There's a green coffee bean extract that contains about 270% higher concentrations of chlorogenic acid than coffee. And it's a very easy way to keep your blood sugar under control. All it takes is 200 mg. twice a day before your heaviest meals to keep your blood sugar in check.

Providing your eyes with the nutrients they need to thrive is also an urgent priority. 
Here's what some doctors prescribe for clients to protect vision as they age. Make sure you're getting each of these natural sight savers every day:

• At least 10 mg. of lutein
• 3 mg. of zeaxanthin
• 100 mg. of bilberry
• 60-120 mg. of ginkgo biloba
• 260 mg. of n-acetyl cysteine (NAC)
• 500 mg. of vitamin C
• 200 IU of vitamin E

It pays big dividends to protect the vision you have with an eye-friendly diet, plenty of physical activity and these smart supplements.

And don't forget! Get checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist annually to keep an eye on your vision health.

Have a good day.

Diabetes And Your Vision

Whenever a family member or a friend tells me he or she is diagnosed to have diabetes, this becomes an immediate concern to me. That's because diabetes places everyone at a higher risk of heart disease, nerve damage, kidney problems and even Alzheimer's. But there's another health threat many of them find surprising.

You see, diabetes is also the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S.

This is a real problem. It's something your primary healthcare provider doesn't look for. They don't test for it either. In fact, many of them won't even warn you about it.

The truth is, only about half of Americans who have vision loss are even aware it could be linked to diabetes. Even fewer have ever been told by their doctors that diabetes might be affecting their eyesight.

This is frightening news. Your eyesight means everything to your independence. It's the difference between being able to read, drive and work as long as you want – or counting on others to "be your eyes."

When your vision is impaired, normal activities can become challenging. Even things that used to be fun can turn into a chore. And it's not just a case of correcting your vision with reading glasses or prescription lenses.

Let me explain the role blood sugar has on your eyesight.

If you're diabetic and don't take appropriate measures to control your blood sugar, it can change the structure and function of blood vessels throughout your body… but especially the ones in your eyes.

This can result in a condition called diabetic retinopathy.

In a nutshell, the small blood vessels that nourish your retinas weaken and break down. They start leaking blood and other fluids that make things look blurry. You might even see dark spots or blank areas in your vision.

If left unchecked, this can progress into something called diabetic macular edema (DME). This occurs when those retinal blood vessels start leaking fluid into the macula. These leaks cause the macula to swell and thicken – and can severely affect your central vision.

In the early stages, it's easy to shrug off these vision changes to a normal part of aging. You might even spend a few bucks on reading glasses, hoping to find just the right lens to reduce the blur. I find a lot of my patients try going this route instead of visiting their eye doctor.

But if you're diabetic, it's absolutely essential to get a proper eye exam every year, even if your vision hasn't been affected yet. That's because the earlier you catch any signs of damage, the better your chances of saving your eyesight.

To be cont'd.

Have a great day.

Strawberries Should Not Be Ignored

OHIO

Recent studies conducted at the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center and presented at the American Association for Cancer research found that strawberries could help slow cancer progression.

The study included 36 participants. All of who were at risk for cancer and some had tumors/lesions. They were given 2 ounces of strawberries mixed with water daily.

The team found that by the end of the research, those who consumed strawberries daily saw the most benefits. The lesions regressed from moderate to mild, or completely disappeared. In addition, after 6 months of the strawberry regime half of the subjects were free of disease.

It was noted that past studies have proven that other fruits and vegetables could also slow the progression or even help prevent deadly cancer. According to WebMD, the following are super foods that help fight off cancer and other illnesses:

·         Garlic: helps prevent stomach cancer

·         Broccoli: helps prevent cancers of the mouth, throat, and stomach

·         Tomatoes: help prevent cancerous tumors (breast, and lung cancer)

·         Carrots and spinach: help prevent stomach, ovarian, lung, and colorectal cancer

If you are interested in preventing or slowing the progression of cancer and other illnesses, you might want to consider adding strawberries and other super foods to your daily diet.

Have a great day.

Why Is Broccoli So Important?

GREAT BRITAIN

 A Study conducted at Britain ’s Institute of Food Research and published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming broccoli could help prevent cancer.

The study included 20 participants; they were given a combination of wild and commercially available broccoli to consume for 3 months. The participants were separated into 3 groups; one group consumed wild broccoli, the other group consumed commercially available broccoli, and the last group did not consume any broccoli.

The team found that the 2 groups that consumed broccoli showed an improvement in their metabolism. The researchers noted that this is probably from the high levels of glucoraphanin found in broccoli. They found that glucoraphanin was associated with preventing disease, especially cancer and helps “retune” metabolic processes in the cells that get disrupted as we age.

The researchers recommend eating broccoli two to three times per week.

According to lead author, Dr. Richard Mithen:

“We think it is significant because it shows in humans a measurable effect on our metabolism, which is central to our overall health and could explain the diverse range of beneficial effects many observational dietary studies have shown previously.”

If you are interested in preventing cancer and other diseases, you might want to consider adding broccoli to your diet.

Enjoy your day.

Fish And Your Brain

PENNSYLVANIA

 A recent study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health Sciences and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that eating baked or broiled fish weekly could boost brain health.

The study included 260 participants, all of them completed questionnaires regarding dietary intake. In addition, all of the subjects had MRI scans of their brain and were followed for an average of 10 years.

The team found that those who consumed baked or broiled fish at lease once per week had 4.3 percent more brain matter responsible for memory and 14 percent for cognition (learning), compared to those who did not consume fish at least once per week.

According to professor of psychiatry, James T Becker, Ph.D.:

"This suggests that lifestyle factors, in this case eating fish, rather than biological factors contribute to structural changes in the brain. A confluence of lifestyle factors likely are responsible for better brain health, and this reserve might prevent or delay cognitive problems that can develop later in life."

If you are interested in boosting your brain health, you might want to consider adding fish to your weekly diet.

Have a great day.

Probiotic Can Do More Than You Think

CAMBRIDGE , MASSACHUSETTS 

Recently,  a study conducted at Harvard University and published in the journal Hypertension found that consuming foods rich in probiotics could help prevent or control high blood pressure levels.

The study included 550 participants; they were split into two groups. One group consumed foods rich in probiotics and the other group consumed foods that were not rich in probiotics. The researchers compared blood pressure levels to the amount of probiotics consumed.

The team found that on average those who consumed the foods rich in probiotics had a reduction of 3.56 points in their systolic (top number) blood pressure level and a decrease of 2.38 in their diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure level.

According to WebMD, the following foods are rich in probiotics:

·         Yogurt

·         Sauerkraut

·         Miso Soup

·         Soft cheeses ( gouda )

·         Sourdough bread

If you are interested in preventing or controlling your high blood pressure levels, you might want to consider adding foods rich in probiotics to your daily diet.

Enjoy your day.

What Do You Crave? Cont'd.

A few months ago, I read about how important pomegranate can be when it comes to men's prostate health.

But pomegranate also has a lot of power when it comes to your overall health. It's better than any pill you could take. It also has about 20% more antioxidant power than açaí, cranberries, blueberries and green tea.

This amazing fruit…

• Reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer

• Lowers blood pressure and reduces inflammation

• Cuts blood sugar and cholesterol

• Fights UVB skin damage

• Improves endothelial function and decreases plaque in the arteries

• Boosts erectile function

• Relaxes arteries and improves blood flow

Where can you get pomegranate? 

Try your local organic produce market for fresh, organic pomegranate fruit. You can also pick up pure, natural pomegranate juice or try supplementing with 100 mg. capsules.

Pomegranate is definitely one of nature's cure-alls. There are many more natural super-foods however, but will talk about those next time. you can enjoy a healthy life if you feed your body with what it really needs.

Enjoy your day.

What Do You Crave?

What is it that you crave? Is it chips and dips, meats and sweets, pies and fries, cakes and shakes?

These foods are all a big part of the Western diet. It's almost impossible to avoid them. But even though you crave them, are these American delights what your body really wants? The answer is a resounding NO!

It doesn't matter how many cravings you have for some of these favored foods. Your body has absolutely no use for most of them. They're empty calories. They're fattening and inflammatory. They interfere with your body's natural healing ability and place you squarely at risk of chronic disease.

This is an urgent message to everyone:

Today the CDC reports that half of American adults suffer from at least one life-threatening ailment. They also say a quarter of our adult population is dealing with two or more killer diseases.

A big part of the problem? The foods we eat. I think it's about time we put the odds in our favor and feed our bodies exactly what they need.

What does your body really want – and need – to survive?

The good, old-fashioned foods our ancestors thrived on.

Until about 150 years ago, we ate roots and fruits, greens and beans, seeds and weeds, fish and a little bit of natural wild game. If you want to fight off chronic disease, you may want to revisit some of these foods.

Unfortunately you can't buy any of them at Burger King, MacDonald's or KFC. They don't come in boxes or cellophane packages from the grocery store, either.

I suggest getting 80% of your food from natural plant sources. That's what your body really wants, even if you aren't aware of it. Keep in mind, when you fuel your body with the right foods, it has an innate ability to heal itself. Feed it the wrong foods, and your body becomes chronically inflamed. Then it literally starts DESTROYING itself.

Fruits and vegetables of every color support a healthy body and reduce inflammation. You can eat them raw or cooked. But there is one particular fruit that's very good to eat every single day. It has the power to defeat almost every single health threat that plagues us in these modern times. May i suggest to you the amazing fruit? 'Pomegranate'.

To be cont'd.

Have a healthy day.

Vitamin D and High Blood Pressure

 Recently, studies conducted at the University of South Australia and published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that consuming vitamin D could help lower your risk for high blood pressure.

The study included 146,500 participants. The researchers analyzed the relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk for high blood pressure (hypertension).

The team found that for each 10 percent increase in vitamin D there was a significant drop in blood pressure, and an 8 percent decreased risk of developing hypertension.

According to the study leader, Dr. Elina Hypponen:

“The potential to prevent or reduce blood pressure and therefore the risk of hypertension with vitamin D is very attractive.”

In addition to soaking up sun in moderation, according to webMD you can also consume vitamin D in the following foods:

·         Dairy products (milk, soy milk, yogurt)

·         Fatty fish (tuna, salmon)

·         Cheese

·         Egg yolks

If you are interested in preventing or lowering your high blood pressure levels, you might want to consider adding vitamin D to your daily diet.

Enjoy your day.

Tree Nuts And Heart

CANADA 

 Studies conducted in the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre of St. Michael’s Hospital and published in the journal BMJ Open found that consuming tree nuts could help improve heart health.

The study analyzed 49 previous studies, including more than 2000 participants. The researchers examined the relationship between tree nuts and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of factors that increases the risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. The risk factors include high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels.

The team found that consuming tree nuts helped minimize metabolic syndrome. Specifically, the biggest reductions were seen in their triglyceride and blood sugar levels.

The researchers recommend consuming 1.5 servings (about 50 grams) of tree nuts per day. The following are considered tree nuts:

·         Almonds, cashews, chestnuts

·         Hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and pistachios

If you are interested in improving your heart health, you should consider adding tree nuts to your daily diet. Good health to you.

Have a great day.

What About Fish Oil And Dementia?

A recent study conducted at Rhode Island Hospital and published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia found that fish oil could help reduce cognitive decline and improve memory function.

The study included 229 participants who were cognitively normal, 397 who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, and 193 with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. All of the participants underwent tests that measured their thinking and learning abilities and compared those results to consuming fish oil.

The team found that overall fish oil consumption significantly lowered risks of cognitive decline, especially associated with Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia.

It is noted that omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil and the following foods:

·         Flax seeds, walnuts

·         Salmon, shrimp

·         Soybeans

·         Brussels sprouts and cauliflower

If you are interested in preventing cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia you might want to consider adding fish oil to your diet.

Enjoy your day.

Extend Your Life In Minutes

 Recent study conducted at Iowa State and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that running just 5-10 minutes per day could increase your life expectancy.

The study included 55,137 participants. The researchers followed them for an average of 15 years; all of the participants completed a medical history questionnaire regarding their physical activity habits. In addition, the researchers analyzed the causes of any deaths that occurred during the 15-year study.

The team found that those who engaged in running each week were 30 percent less likely to die from all causes and 45 percent less likely to die from heart related problems. They concluded that runners were likely to live 3 years longer than those who did not run. In addition, they found the same benefits with those who only ran 5-10 minutes per day.

According to lead researcher, D.C Lee:

"Running is good for your health, but more may not be better. You don't have to think it's a big challenge. We found that even 10 minutes per day is good enough. You don't need to do a lot to get the benefits from running."

If you are interested in increasing your life expectancy, you might want to consider adding at least 5-10 minutes of running to your daily routine.

Have a great day.