| ###Three Nutrients That Protect Against Vision Loss -by Victor Marchione, MD
Macular degeneration is a serious disease. It affects over 10 million Americans, most of whom are 55 and older. In fact, this eye disease affects more people than glaucoma and cataracts combined. Sight is with us from the moment we wake up to the moment we sleep. It is something people depend on in their daily lives. Unfortunately, it's a fact that, as we age, our eyesight begins to deteriorate. Researchers have made strides in recent years to delay this loss of sight and are constantly searching for alternative cures that could beat macular degeneration.
It's good news then that a new study has found a simple, safe cure without prescription side effects. According to a team of scientists from the Netherlands, people with a genetic susceptibility to macular degeneration could cut their risk of developing the disease by as much as one-
third.
Age-related macular degeneration accounts for half of all cases of blindness in developed countries, the researchers note. In the United States, the condition occurs in more than six out of every 100 adults over age 40(!). Though patients can be treated with medications and surgery, none of these remedies cures the disease.
Who is likely to get macular degeneration There are at least two gene variations known to raise a person's risk for developing the condition compared to the general population. One of the variations (called "CFH") increases a person's odds of macular degeneration up to 11-fold and another (called "LOC387715S") raises them by up to 15-fold.
For their study, the researchers set out to see whether these especially susceptible people might reduce their risk. They surveyed the eating habits of more than 2,000 participants over the age of 55. All were tested for the macular degeneration susceptibility genes. For the next 10 years, all the participants had eye exams every three years to determine who suffered vision loss.
The research team found that, among people with the CFH variation, greater amounts of zinc, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids and/or lutein/zeaxanthin in the diet were linked to a smaller risk of macular degeneration. How much smaller was the risk Consider these statistics: 39 out of every 100 people who ate the lowest amounts of omega-3 fats (about 22 milligrams per day) developed vision loss. Contrast this with only 28 out of every 100 people who ate the largest amounts of omega-3s (268 mg per day) who ended up experiencing vision loss. For those who had the genetic variation, reduced risk of vision loss was seen among 25% of people who ate 11.85 mg per day of zinc, compared to 33% of people who ate just 7.5 mg per day.
Here's some health advice: boost your diet with zinc, omega-3s and lutein and zeaxanthin. Good sources for zinc include these healing foods: oysters; red meat; nuts; and beans. Oily fish are some of the best food sources for omega-3 fats. Lutein and zeaxanthin are abundant in eggs and green leafy vegetables.
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###The Power of Pycnogenol, Part 4 -by David Juan, MD
This final part of my "Pycnogenol" article flows through many more potential uses for this natural supplement. I end with my final thoughts on this special extract from pine tree bark.
@Edema During Flights
The goal of one study was to evaluate whether or not Pycnogenol could prevent edema (fluid build-up) during long-haul flights in healthy people. There were 88 in the control group and 81 in the Pycnogenol group. In those treated with Pycnogenol, the edema score was increased by 17.9% versus an increase of 58.3% in the control group. Not bad.
@Retinopathy
A total of 40 patients with retinopathy (damage to the retina part of the eye) from diabetes and other vascular causes were enrolled in one study. Thirty patients were treated with 150 mg of Pycnogenol a day and the other 10 patients with placebo for a period of two months. In the placebo group, the retinopathy worsened; whereas, in the Pycnogenol-treated group, there was no deterioration.
@ADHD
In a good-quality study, 24 adults aged 24 to 53 years old with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were given Pycnogenol, placebo, or the standard drug for three weeks. Results failed to show any efficacy of Pycnogenol or methylphenidate when compared to placebo. The authors attributed the negative results to the short duration of treatment and the low dosages of drug or Pycnogenol.
In another study, 61 children with ADHD were given one mg per kg/day of Pycnogenol or placebo over four weeks. Results showed that one month of Pycnogenol led to a significant reduction of hyperactivity with improvement in attention and visual-motor coordination and concentration, as compared to no positive effects in the placebo group. After stopping Pycnogenol for one month, symptoms returned.
@Menopausal Syndrome
Symptoms of menopausal syndrome, also known as climacteric syndrome, include: hot flashes; chills; headache; and depression. In this study, 155 peri-
menopausal women were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. They were treated with 200 mg of Pycnogenol daily or with placebo. Pycnogenol-treated subjects experienced an improvement in all menopausal symptoms.
@Other
-- Pycnogenol alleviated adverse effects in cancer patients
-- Pycnogenol improved working memory in older adults
-- Pycnogenol lowered the use of analgesic drugs in dysmenorrhea (severe menstrual pain)
-- Pycnogenol reduced symptoms in endometriosis comparable to leuprorelin, the standard drug for this condition
-- Pycnogenol was found to be effective for sun-caused hyperpigmented skin
-- Pycnogenol reduced the inflammation in lupus patients
-- Pycnogenol lowered blood pressure
-- Pycnogenol lowered LDL cholesterol
-- Pycnogenol reduced gingival bleeding and plaque formation
My bottom line: although the preliminary studies show many health benefits with the use of Pycnogenol, future larger and better studies are needed. While much of this is positive, it will be a while before doctors routinely recommend this dietary supplement for these conditions. Talk to your own doctor about Pycnogenol if you're interested in using it for your own health.
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### Five Great Natural Remedies for Anxiety--by Jeff Jurmain, MA
For 20 million adults in the U.S., anxiety isn't just a passing feeling. It is recurring and life-altering. There are ways to manage this condition through alternative health. So here is a look at the top herbal remedies and natural remedies for battling this common condition.
When someone has chronic anxiety that can be triggered by stress, they have a disorder. One of the body's ways to manage stress is to become anxious. This is believed to help you cope with the situation. When anxiety persists, you may have a disorder. If you have irrational fears about any number of things, your anxiety may have taken the leap from a symptom to a disorder requiring medical attention. They include social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder.
Most people with anxiety disorders and panic attacks actually use complementary and alternative medicine to control symptoms more than mainstream drugs. Here's a quick list of the best natural remedies to soothe anxiety:
1. Valerian: This is the king of soothing herbs. For anxiety, it may bind itself to brain receptors and release its sedating effect. It is thought to calm nerves, balance mood swings, and reduce stressful situations. You can drink valerian root tea many times a day, or opt for supplements of between 600 mg and 1,200 mg, three times a day.
2. 5-HTP: This popular supplement is used by your body to make serotonin that controls, among other things, mood. Best known for treating depression, 5-HTP may be useful for anxiety. It's beaten placebo in studies and come close to the effects of actual anxiety medication. A typical dose is 100 mg to 300 mg, three times a day.
3. Inositol: This is a B-vitamin used for anxiety that triggers panic attacks. It's advisable to speak to your doctor about this possibility, as the doses needed are rather high. Studies have used 4.0 g all the way to 18 g a day.
4. Multivitamins: Strangely enough, a simple multivitamin-
mineral supplement has been found to reduce anxiety. It could also reduce the anxiety related to how a person views a stressful situation.
5. Passionflower: Hailing from the same soothing herbal family as valerian root, passionflower has been long used as a mild sedative. Drinking three cups of passionflower tea (with real dried leaves) a day could reduce anxiety.
If you've already been prescribed medication for an anxiety or mood disorder, do not discontinue use of the drug without consulting with your doctor. If you're interested in trying any of the natural anxiety remedies mentioned above, it's always best to get your doctor's or pharmacist's advice on dosage, interactions, and side effects.
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