Re: NEWBIE with some eye questions

[Guest guest]

>This is the same post I have on another discussion group, so if it

>sounds familiar to some of you, you'll know why. I'm new to both

>groups. This group seems to have a lot of *activity* and I'm hoping

>to get a few opinions on the questions below.

I for one just don't know much about cataracts. I did a quick

web search on " cataract nutrition " and they DO seem to be

affected by nutrition, drugs, and lots of other things (see below).

I've noticed that when I snack on whole anchovies my eyes work

better, probably because of some nutrient in the anchovies

(which brings to mind the story about the trapper eating

fish eyes to cure snow blindness?).

-- Heidi Jean

http://www.visionworksusa.com/diseases.asp?d_num=2

Causes:

* Free radicals are responsible for most cataracts. They are natural

byproducts of metabolism. These highly reactive chemicals cause oxidation, which

in turn causes aging. As the lens of the eye ages, it hardens and loses its

ability to focus. This process is similar to hardening of the arteries, and is

often associated with changes in the joints.

* Chronic physical stress such as dental problems, physical injury to the

vertebrae or neck, or any stress that reduces eye movement and increases muscle

tension.

* Food Allergies or sensitivities, particularly involving dairy products,

wheat and/or soy can congest the sinuses, impairing lymphatic and veinous

drainage, resulting in decreased nutrition to the eyes.

* Toxins, pharmaceutical drug side effects, such as steroid drugs, or

photosensitizing drugs such as gout medications, cholesterol lowering drugs,

antibiotics and diuretics.

* Smoking - the risk in ex-smokers is 50 percent higher compared to non

smokers. Each cigarette also robs the body of 25 mg of vitamin C. Smokers have

an increase in lipids (both fat and cholesterol) which increase the risk of

severe cardiovascular disease. These factors produce narrowing of the retina

blood vessels that carry valuable nutrients to the eye.

* Diabetes and other diseases that affect multiple areas of the body such as

hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. Diabetics develop

cataracts at an earlier age than non- diabetics. An accumulation of sorbitol and

fructose in the lens can induce osmotic swelling of the lens, which will lead to

the development of a cataract.

* Poor nutrition and digestion. Nutritional deficiencies, such as in poor

areas of Third World countries, can cause cataracts to develop early and

progress faster. In every part of the world, people with poor digestion and

chronic bowel problems have a fourfold higher incidence of cataracts.

* Heredity

* Aging of the Eyes - hardening of the lens occurs as we age.

* Sunlight - invisible ultraviolet light (UV light) which is one of the

light frequencies of sunlight promotes free-radical damage to the lens. The

effects of UV light are cumulative over time.

* Alcoholic Consumption - High intake of alcohol more than doubles the risk

of developing cataracts. More than 7 drinks per week will increase the risk,

while moderate use does not seem to increase the risk.

[Guest guest]

I have a friend of Hispanic descent whose 80-something yo mother

lives in south Texas. She eats Mexican-style NT, from what I have

heard. She still renders her own lard, uses locally-produced eggs,

chicken, and beef, etc. They have orange trees on their land.

I would like to be in as good shape as she is when I'm 80-something.

I have a picture of her with most of her children. Her weight is

better than theirs, and her face looks amazingly smooth. She looks

like she's not a victim of Alzheimer's or any other dementia.

Her only health complaint was cataracts. They did surgery and she's

fine now.

My friend looks like a firstborn (if you've read Dr.

Price's " Nutrition and Physical Degeneration " , you know what I'm

talking about). But my friend is the 10th of 10 children! So his

mother was obviously doing food right! She was in her 40s when she

had him.

[Guest guest]

>This is the same post I have on another discussion group, so if it

>sounds familiar to some of you, you'll know why. I'm new to both

>groups. This group seems to have a lot of *activity* and I'm hoping

>to get a few opinions on the questions below.

OK, I remember what I had read about cataracts now ... they

are much less common in folks that get lutien, which is found

in green vegies.

Of course, one of the reasons people get low in lutein

and other nutrients is because of poor absorption, which

is often from poor digestion (gluten allergy, low HCL,

low enzymes, dysbiosis or all of the above). And/or not

eating good foods in the first place.

Lutein seems to be found in eggs too:

http://www.agingeye.com/nutrition/eggs.php

It's plain to see that eggs are good for your eyes. That's because egg yolks

contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants from the carotenoid family that

contribute to improving eye health and protecting eyes from ultraviolet rays.

These two carotenoids help to reduce the risk of age-related macular

degeneration, the main cause of blindness in Canadians over 65 years of age.

What's more, data from the Beaver Dam Eye Study shows that people who eat eggs

every day have less risk of developing cataracts.

These antioxidants are also found in certain leafy green vegetables, such as

spinach. However, the body metabolizes the lutein and zeaxanthin found in eggs

more efficiently - yet another reason why eggs are good for your health. Eggs

are part of the balanced diet recommended by Canada's Food Guide to Healthy

Eating and they provide excellent nutritional value for just pennies.

and I'd guess in stuff like fish eyes (dried fried

anchovies, anyone?).

A most interesting thing is that some people thing

lutein in childhood may trigger autism, and are treating

autism with a lutein free diet (????):

http://www.saras-autism-diet.freeservers.com/Literature/letter-Malaysia-2003.htm\

l

This is reflected in the growing realisation that

autism and blindness overlap by as much as 30% (i.e a high percentage of

blind people are autistic according to professionals working with blind

children in Scotland) and that almost all autists have some form of visual

impairment or visual anomaly. Autism develops as a result of increased

lutein in the diet during early childhood, or when the immune system is

challenged by childhood infection or vaccination, or a combination of

these factors.

-- Heidi Jean

http://www.eyemdlink.com/NewsArticle.asp?NewsID=16

Cataract Formation Studied in Women

In these landmark studies, researchers set out to prospectively evaluate the

diets of both women and men, and determine the risk of developing a cataract

severe enough to require surgery. A group of female nurses participated in the

study, which began in 1980, and included 12 years of follow up. A total of

77,466 women participated. The nurses were asked to regularly submit answers to

a questionnaire regarding their eating habits during the follow-up period. Over

the course of the study, a total of 1,471 cataract extraction procedures were

performed.

Certain Nutrients Reduce Cataract Development

The authors found that " after age, smoking, and other potential risk factors

were controlled for, those with the highest intake of lutein and zeaxanthin had

a 22% decreased risk of cataract extraction compared with those in the lowest

quintile. " Foods that are rich in the carotenoids known as lutein and zeaxanthin

include spinach, kale, and collard greens. The authors further state,

" increasing frequency of intakes of spinach and kale, foods rich in lutein, was

associated with a moderate decrease in risk of cataract " and may " decrease the

risk of cataracts severe enough to require extraction. "

[Guest guest]

>

Second is would this damage

> have been caused from when I was a kid and a friend and I dared

each

> other to stare into the sun for as long as we could (I'm pretty

sure

> it was more than one time)?

If that was the case, I think most of us should have cataracts

Cheers,

Tas'.

[Guest guest]

If you're interested in other approaches to vision care, you might be

interested to know of someone named Meir Schneider had cataracts as a child

and left partially (mostly?) blind from subsequent surgeries. He eventually

healed himself using the Bates method, and now he teaches it. There are a

few egroups related to Bates' methods, and you may find them useful.

" batesmethod " , " i-see " , and " 2see " are the ones I know of. There is also

" FOVT " , which is for Vision Training (methods evolved since Bates), and

there are some optometrists on that mailing list.

Personally, I find that some of the methods work (have only tried a couple

things), but I'd get more out of it if I had proper instruction and put more

discipline in it. Bates does talk about treating cataracts, but most

people on the mailing lists are dealing with myopia and astigmatism.

Hope that helps.

NEWBIE with some eye questions

> This is the same post I have on another discussion group, so if it

> sounds familiar to some of you, you'll know why. I'm new to both

> groups. This group seems to have a lot of *activity* and I'm hoping

> to get a few opinions on the questions below.

>

> I am curious about something. I've worn glasses since I was 11 years

> old. Then two years ago, at age 45, when getting my first pair of

> progressive bifocals (ugh!) the eye doctor said that I have cataracts

> that he rarely sees this severe in people under age 60. That's a

> scary thought! Well, I actually have three questions here. First is

> with cataracts this bad, should I be allowing sunlight to enter my

> eyes without sunglasses occasionally? Second is would this damage

> have been caused from when I was a kid and a friend and I dared each

> other to stare into the sun for as long as we could (I'm pretty sure

> it was more than one time)? And also, by adding the good saturated

> fats into my diet as well as lots of carotenoids will it reverse at

> all? In February I started taking virgin coconut oil and started

> eating grass fed beef (with the fat!). We've been using store bought

> butter for years, and lately only organic butter. I have finally

> found a good source of raw milk here in Southern Oregon and have

> bought my first 2 gallons. (It's pretty hard to find due to the law

> here that you can sell raw milk if you only have 2 dairy cows) What

> veggies we can't grow in our small backyard we buy from local organic

> farmers. I know we are starting in the right direction. But is it a

> little too late for cataracts? I'm thrilled to be eating real food

> again! I had gotten away from it for about 6 years, but my New

> Year's Resolution this year was to eat more God-made foods and less

> man-made (fake) foods. After checking out Nourishing Traditions from

> the library, I found out about Weston A Price and checked it out

> too. What a difference to how the mainstream American public eat. I

> work in a call center right next to the break room. I see so many

> people hit those vending machines day in and day out. Not only is it

> bad for their health, but just think of all the money being used to

> further their poor health! I have to admit that I do spend more

> money on good food, but it is somewhat balanced out by not buying all

> the store bought junk food. I'm very interested in seeing how eating

> the right way will affect my eyes and my overall health. Oh, did I

> mention the 13 pounds I've lost without hunger since Feb 1st?

> Anyway, I'd like any input you all have in regards to eyesight and

> reversal of cataracts.

>

> Thank you

> Rhonda Nolan

>