What
Causes Nearsightedness?
Nearsightedness (myopia), is a
vision problem in which close objects appear clear but distant objects are
blurry. This condition is thought to be caused by refractive errors in your
eye. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through one object to
another.
When light rays are refracted
through your eye's cornea and lens, they become focused on the retina, which
then converts the light into messages sent through the optic nerve to your
brain, which then interprets the messages into images.
Refractive errors occur when the
shape of your eye prevents light from focusing properly on your retina. This
can occur by changes in the shape of your eye, such as the length of your
eyeball or shape of your cornea, and/or changes in your lens due to aging. But
what exactly is responsible for these changes?
Two studies, the first published
in 2007 and the second in 2008 found that rates of nearsightedness in
children appeared to be closely linked to the amount of time spent outdoors.
The greater the number of hours spent playing outside, the lower the risk of
nearsightedness.
In other words, keeping kids
indoors and/or instilling a fear of sun exposure (for skin cancer reasons) may
be at the heart of the world's growing myopia problem. Remarkably, according to
a British survey, 75 percent of children in the U.K. spend less time outdoors
than prison inmates!
Why You Should Add Eggs To Your Salad
New research shows how dropping eggs into your salad -- yolk
and all -- will give your body a boost when it comes to absorbing critical
vitamin E.
The more eggs you toss in there, the more E your body will soak up. And if you add three whole eggs to your salad, you'll get between FOUR and SEVEN times more vitamin E out of your salad!
The key is in the fats. Vitamin E needs them to get absorbed, and eggs have just about the best fat balance of anything out there -- and the benefit isn't limited to E.
One study found that eggs can increase your absorption of powerful fat-soluble antioxidants known as carotenoids by as much as 800 percent.
These are essential nutrients such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene, which can protect your eyes, brain, muscles, and more.
These nutrients can even fight off cancer -- and you can get them just by boosting your egg intake.
The more eggs you toss in there, the more E your body will soak up. And if you add three whole eggs to your salad, you'll get between FOUR and SEVEN times more vitamin E out of your salad!
The key is in the fats. Vitamin E needs them to get absorbed, and eggs have just about the best fat balance of anything out there -- and the benefit isn't limited to E.
One study found that eggs can increase your absorption of powerful fat-soluble antioxidants known as carotenoids by as much as 800 percent.
These are essential nutrients such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene, which can protect your eyes, brain, muscles, and more.
These nutrients can even fight off cancer -- and you can get them just by boosting your egg intake.
This Migraine Treatment is as Effective as Drugs
If you want to see the blatant mainstream medical bias FOR the drug industry and AGAINST non-drug treatments, look no further than the latest "study" on migraines.
You may have heard something about it or at least seen the headlines: Chiropractic manipulation "doesn't work" for these terrible headaches.
Now, let's leave aside the fact that no serious chiropractor will tell you these treatments are a cure. They'll instead tell you that they're just something to help ease the pain and restore a little function.
Done right, you'll feel a little better... have fewer days with headaches.. and need fewer pain pills. And by THAT basic standard, spinal manipulation passed the new study with flying colors!
So what did the team behind this study do? They cooked up a whole bunch of nonsense.
The study divided the migraine patients into a group getting "real" chiropractic, a group getting a "sham" chiropractic as a placebo, and a group just given pain pills.
Over three months ALL THREE groups improved, with a reduction in the number of days battling migraines.
So far it's a tie. But it didn't stay that way.
If you want to see the blatant mainstream medical bias FOR the drug industry and AGAINST non-drug treatments, look no further than the latest "study" on migraines.
You may have heard something about it or at least seen the headlines: Chiropractic manipulation "doesn't work" for these terrible headaches.
Now, let's leave aside the fact that no serious chiropractor will tell you these treatments are a cure. They'll instead tell you that they're just something to help ease the pain and restore a little function.
Done right, you'll feel a little better... have fewer days with headaches.. and need fewer pain pills. And by THAT basic standard, spinal manipulation passed the new study with flying colors!
So what did the team behind this study do? They cooked up a whole bunch of nonsense.
The study divided the migraine patients into a group getting "real" chiropractic, a group getting a "sham" chiropractic as a placebo, and a group just given pain pills.
Over three months ALL THREE groups improved, with a reduction in the number of days battling migraines.
So far it's a tie. But it didn't stay that way.
At the three-, six-, and 12-month marks, the folks given
chiropractic and "sham" were ALL doing better than the ones on pain
pills. And one year later, they had improved by 40 PERCENT... while the folks
taking pain pills were right back to square one, suffering as many headaches as
they did at the start of the study.
What we see here is that BOTH chiropractic AND the sham work as well as meds in the short-term... and BETTER than meds in the long term!
What was the sham treatment? A "push maneuver of the lateral edge of the scapula and the gluteal region" that lasted for 15 minutes. Which sounds like a massage. And in 2006, a study found massage can reduce migraine frequency AND lead to better sleep.
So all this study proves is that chiropractic and massage are as good as meds in the short term, and better in the long term... and unlike meds, you won't suffer any side effects.
If you want the best results, get both chiropractic AND a massage.
Like I said earlier, this isn't a cure -- just something to help you out a little.
What we see here is that BOTH chiropractic AND the sham work as well as meds in the short-term... and BETTER than meds in the long term!
What was the sham treatment? A "push maneuver of the lateral edge of the scapula and the gluteal region" that lasted for 15 minutes. Which sounds like a massage. And in 2006, a study found massage can reduce migraine frequency AND lead to better sleep.
So all this study proves is that chiropractic and massage are as good as meds in the short term, and better in the long term... and unlike meds, you won't suffer any side effects.
If you want the best results, get both chiropractic AND a massage.
Like I said earlier, this isn't a cure -- just something to help you out a little.
Vitamin D Reduces
Body Fat in Toddlers
Published in LifeExtension Magazine
A new study in the journal Pediatric Obesity shows that vitamin D
given to babies seems to lead to less body fat and more muscle mass when they
become toddlers.
|
This is the first time a connection has
been found between healthy vitamin D levels in a baby's first year and
development of muscle mass. Researchers made the discovery when they followed
up on a 2013 study in which 132 babies in Montreal, Canada, were given
vitamin D3 in varying dosages. The 2013 study was only designed to confirm
the importance of vitamin D for bone density, but the follow-up revealed that
infants with vitamin D stores higher than recommended by the Canadian Pediatric
Society averaged about 450 grams less body fat at age 3.
Both studies agree that a vitamin D
supplement of 400 IU a day in an infant's first year aids in the growth of
strong bones.
|
Editor's Note: "We were very intrigued by the higher lean mass,
the possibility that vitamin D can help infants to not only grow healthy
skeletons but also healthy amounts of muscle and less fat," said Hope
Weller, one of the authors of the study and director of the Mary Emily Clinical
Nutrition Research Unit at McGill University.
FDA Controls The Media
Have you ever wondered why every time a new drug or medical
device is approved, all the news stories you read or watch about it sound
exactly the same?
You can tune in CBS, NBC, public television, or newspapers online, and just about everything you see says that whatever has been approved by the FDA is the greatest thing since sliced bread!
Well, now the cat's out of the bag.
Because where your health and well-being are concerned, the media may well be reporting only what government officials would like you to hear.
An investigation recently published in Scientific American told how easily the media is manipulated by the FDA. It's done with an unofficial policy by the agency of "close-hold embargoes" that prevents reporters from telling the other side of the story.
The arrangement is a quid pro quo in which certain reporters from selected news organizations (usually the biggest ones) are given the scoop on an official agency decision. But, in turn, they aren't allowed to get comments from any other source – they can only parrot what FDA officials tell them.
One science reporter (who's also a university dean) said that turns news reporters into nothing "other than a stenographer."
What makes this especially unethical is the fact that the FDA supposedly did away with such restrictive reporting rules when revising its media policy five years ago.
Back then, the agency even declared itself committed to "a culture of openness" when dealing with news organizations.
But in reality, according to Scientific American, that pledge hasn't been honored, and continues to be violated in closed-session "invitation only" news conferences.
So the next time you see a news story about a new drug or medical device, remember that you're likely only hearing what the FDA wants you to know – and nothing more.
You can tune in CBS, NBC, public television, or newspapers online, and just about everything you see says that whatever has been approved by the FDA is the greatest thing since sliced bread!
Well, now the cat's out of the bag.
Because where your health and well-being are concerned, the media may well be reporting only what government officials would like you to hear.
An investigation recently published in Scientific American told how easily the media is manipulated by the FDA. It's done with an unofficial policy by the agency of "close-hold embargoes" that prevents reporters from telling the other side of the story.
The arrangement is a quid pro quo in which certain reporters from selected news organizations (usually the biggest ones) are given the scoop on an official agency decision. But, in turn, they aren't allowed to get comments from any other source – they can only parrot what FDA officials tell them.
One science reporter (who's also a university dean) said that turns news reporters into nothing "other than a stenographer."
What makes this especially unethical is the fact that the FDA supposedly did away with such restrictive reporting rules when revising its media policy five years ago.
Back then, the agency even declared itself committed to "a culture of openness" when dealing with news organizations.
But in reality, according to Scientific American, that pledge hasn't been honored, and continues to be violated in closed-session "invitation only" news conferences.
So the next time you see a news story about a new drug or medical device, remember that you're likely only hearing what the FDA wants you to know – and nothing more.
Alzheimer's and Dementia Rates Rise as Nations Adopt the Westernized Diet
(NaturalNews) As the Western diet spreads around the world,
so do Alzheimer's disease and other forms
of dementia, according to a study published
in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
The researchers were not surprised by the findings. A large body of research shows that diets high in junk food, meat, and refined sugars increase the risk of Alzheimer's, while traditional diets rich in real, whole foods -- mostly vegetables -- reduce the risk.
The United States has the second-highest rate of Alzheimer's worldwide, with an estimated 5 million people affected. The number of cases is expected to hit nearly 14 million by 2050.
Surprise: diet and exercise keep you healthy
The researchers were not surprised by the findings. A large body of research shows that diets high in junk food, meat, and refined sugars increase the risk of Alzheimer's, while traditional diets rich in real, whole foods -- mostly vegetables -- reduce the risk.
The United States has the second-highest rate of Alzheimer's worldwide, with an estimated 5 million people affected. The number of cases is expected to hit nearly 14 million by 2050.
Surprise: diet and exercise keep you healthy
The dietary risk factors for Alzeheimer's disease are
identical to those for heart disease, as are lifestyle risks such as smoking
and lack of exercise. In fact, Alzheimer's risk tracks heart disease risk so
closely that some doctors call them "twin pathologies."
So as people around the world increasingly turn to junk food instead of traditional diets, their rates of dementia skyrocket.
"We have a whole new group of people who are malnourished because they eat foods that are not good for them, that have no nutritional benefit," said ecologist David Tillman of the University of Minnesota, who was not involved in the study. "Processed foods have low nutritional value. Diets low in fruit and vegetables have a strong negative health impact."
Japan is a classic example of this trend, study author William B. Grant noted. The traditional Japanese diet is heavy in grains and fish, which are both linked to lower dementia risk. Since the 1980s, Japanese people have increasingly adopted a Western diet rich in red meat, processed foods, sugar and saturated fat. The Alzheimer's rate in Japan has correspondingly jumped from just 1 percent in 1985 to 7 percent in 2008.
"Cold water ocean fish of the type likely consumed in Japan are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, both of which reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease," Grant said. "As Japan underwent the nutrition transition . . . chronic diseases such as cancers and Alzheimer's disease increased dramatically."
But in countries such as Egypt and India, where traditional diets still dominate, Alzheimer's rates remain low even among the elderly.
So as people around the world increasingly turn to junk food instead of traditional diets, their rates of dementia skyrocket.
"We have a whole new group of people who are malnourished because they eat foods that are not good for them, that have no nutritional benefit," said ecologist David Tillman of the University of Minnesota, who was not involved in the study. "Processed foods have low nutritional value. Diets low in fruit and vegetables have a strong negative health impact."
Japan is a classic example of this trend, study author William B. Grant noted. The traditional Japanese diet is heavy in grains and fish, which are both linked to lower dementia risk. Since the 1980s, Japanese people have increasingly adopted a Western diet rich in red meat, processed foods, sugar and saturated fat. The Alzheimer's rate in Japan has correspondingly jumped from just 1 percent in 1985 to 7 percent in 2008.
"Cold water ocean fish of the type likely consumed in Japan are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, both of which reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease," Grant said. "As Japan underwent the nutrition transition . . . chronic diseases such as cancers and Alzheimer's disease increased dramatically."
But in countries such as Egypt and India, where traditional diets still dominate, Alzheimer's rates remain low even among the elderly.
Eat vegetables, avoid junk food
So what should you eat to stave off dementia? The same thing
you should eat for good health overall: a diet low in processed foods, rich in
fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and fish, and with low to moderate
consumption of dairy, poultry and red meat. In other words, something very
similar to the Mediterranean diet, which research has shown to reduce
Alzheimer's risk and also slow disease progression.
For those seeking more structured recommendations, one option is the MIND diet, developed by researchers from Chicago's the Rush University Medical Center. One study found that people who followed the diet loosely cut their Alzheimer's risk by 35 percent, while those who followed it strictly reduced their risk by 50 percent.
The diet recommends 6 or more servings of green, leafy vegetables per week, along with five servings of nuts. Fish should be eaten once a week and poultry twice. Olive oil should be the primary cooking oil, and the diet should also contain plenty of vegetables, berries and whole grains. A glass of red wine should be drunk five times a week. Red meat should be kept to three or fewer servings weekly, and fast or fried food to one. Sweets should be eaten less than 5 times a week.
For those seeking more structured recommendations, one option is the MIND diet, developed by researchers from Chicago's the Rush University Medical Center. One study found that people who followed the diet loosely cut their Alzheimer's risk by 35 percent, while those who followed it strictly reduced their risk by 50 percent.
The diet recommends 6 or more servings of green, leafy vegetables per week, along with five servings of nuts. Fish should be eaten once a week and poultry twice. Olive oil should be the primary cooking oil, and the diet should also contain plenty of vegetables, berries and whole grains. A glass of red wine should be drunk five times a week. Red meat should be kept to three or fewer servings weekly, and fast or fried food to one. Sweets should be eaten less than 5 times a week.
JD
Roma
The information on this blog is provided for
educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical
care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or
suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician
(preferably a Naturopath).
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