Almonds
Almonds are a relative to the peach, apricot, and cherry. Classified into two categories, sweet and bitter, sweet almonds are the variety that is consumed, while bitter almonds are used to make almond oil. Almonds are thought to have originated in western Asia, and...
Turnips
Turnips, as well as cabbage and broccoli, are a member of the cruciferous vegetable family. Cultivated over 4,000 years ago in Asia, turnips increased in popularity throughout Medieval Europe, until the more popular potato was introduced in the 18th century. Turnips...
Eggplant
Eggplants are a member of the nightshade family with potatoes and tomatoes. Although commonly thought of in a deep purple shade, eggplants also come in lavender, jade green, orange and light yellow. Originally found in India, the eggplant was cultivated in China....
Blueberries
Native to North America and Europe, there are over thirty different species of blueberries worldwide. Consumed by man since prehistoric times, blueberries were popular among Native American tribes. Today, blueberries are rarely found in the wild, and are largely...
Pineapples
Pineapples were named for its resemblance of a large green pinecone, and its flavor profile, which is often compared to a mixture of apples, strawberries, and peaches. Native to South America, European explorers introduced the fruit to other African, Asian and South...Get The Longevity Matrix
March is National Vision Awareness Month
Five key nutrients for preventing and treating cataracts and macular degeneration
Nutritional factors play a key role in the prevention and treatment of cataracts and macular degeneration. A diet high in richly colored fruits and vegetables—as well as targeted supplements—is associated with a lowered risk for both conditions.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Research shows that lutein and zeaxanthin supplements not only help protect against macular degeneration, but can also improve visual function in people with macular degeneration. Specifically, in patients with macular degeneration, 10–15 mg of lutein daily led to improvements, including glare recovery, contrast sensitivity, and visual acuity, as compared to a placebo group.
Lutein is also important in preventing cataracts and improving visual function in people with existing cataracts. Like the macula, the human lens concentrates lutein and zeaxanthin. In fact, these are the only carotenes found in the human lens. Three large studies have shown that the intake of lutein was inversely associated with cataract surgery.
Flavonoid-Rich Extracts
Flavonoid-rich extracts of blueberry, bilberry, pine bark, or grape seed also offer valuable eye-health benefits. In addition to possessing excellent antioxidant activity, these extracts have been shown to improve blood flow to the retina and enhance visual processes, especially poor night vision. Take 150–300 mg daily of one of these extracts to support eye health.
Nutritional Antioxidants
Nutritional antioxidants—such as beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc, copper, and selenium—are extremely important for eye health. Studies conducted by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group confirm that a combination of these nutrients produces better results than any single one alone. But even something as simple as taking vitamin C or zinc can produce dramatic effects. In one study, women who took vitamin C for more than 10 years had a 77 percent lower rate of cataract formation compared to women who did not take the vitamin.
Zinc plays an essential role in the metabolism of the retina and the visual process. A two-year trial involving 151 subjects showed that the group taking zinc had significantly less visual loss than the placebo group.
CoQ10 and Acetyl-L-Carnitine
In one double-blind study, 200 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine, omega-3 fatty acids (460 mg EPA and 320 mg DHA), and 20 mg of CoQ10 was shown to improve visual function and macular alterations in early-stage macular degeneration. This combination stopped the disease from progressing in 47 out of 48 cases.
Fish Oils
There is a strong relationship between atherosclerosis (known as hardening of the arteries) and eye health. Therefore, just as in atherosclerosis, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils play an important role in preventing macular degeneration and other eye conditions. The recommended dosage is 1,000 mg of EPA and DHA.
Nutrition for Your Eyes
Foods rich in the carotenes lycopene, zeaxanthin, and lutein include bell peppers, carrots, collard greens, kale, papaya, spinach, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.
For more information, please see the completely revised and updated 3rd edition of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.
On the Dr Oz show
On the show I discussed the failure of conventional medicine to address the underlying issues in many health conditions offering little more than drugs as biochemical “band aids.”