Dr. Grossman’s Blog

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In our practice we are great proponents of juicing and its many health benefits. One veggie that is in many of the recipes that we recommend for specific eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and eye floaters is the humble seeming beet.  We have known for a long time the beet helps to improve circulation and also purifies and builds up the blood.

New research finds that the nitrates found in beet juice both widen blood vessels and increase blood flow to the brain.

In a study of 14 people over age 70 published in Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, the participants who ate a high-nitrate diet featuring beat juice showed increased blood flow to the white matter of the frontal lobes of their brains.  Dementia and other related conditions are most commonly associated with the degradation of that part of the brain.  Source: WebMD

For more information on juicing, please visit our website.

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Age is a major factor in the development of potentially debilitating eye conditions such as macular degeneration, but there are risk factors for the disease that one can control.  The two major contributors to the development of macular degeneration that you can avoid: smoking and fat intake.

The good news related to smoking and the development of macular degeneration is that you can cut your risk significantly if you quit (unlike some diseases where a past history of smoking is as bad a being a current smoker).  It’s another good incentive to kick the habit.

Regular intake of both animal and vegetable fats (including trans fats and hydrogenated fats) can make one twice as susceptible to macular degeneration.  It is important to focus on the good fats like those found in essential fatty acids.

For further information on how to prevent and treat macular degeneration naturally, visit our website.

via usda.gov

Macular Degeneration (ARMD-Aged Related Macular Degeneration) is the slow deterioration of the cells in the macula, a tiny yellowish area near the center of the retina where vision is the most precise, that affects the central vision. There is a common misconception that blindness is inevitable for those with macular degeneration, but there are a number of nutrients and supplements that can support the eyes and promote natural healing.

Research shows that the amino acid taurine has the ability to prevent, treat and stabilize retinal changes in some cases. Eggs and fish are good sources of taurine, but you can also take it in supplement form.
An important note: taurine should be taken on an empty stomach.

Even more important are the cartenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are primarily obtained from dark green leafy vegetables. Research shows that risk of AMD was significantly lower in those who increased the cartenoids in their diet – up to 43%. So, eat your spinach and your kale and your collards and consider supplementing your diet further to really protect yourself from macular degeneration.

Visit our page on macular degeneration to learn about other nutrients and compounds that can support your eye health.

Also, learn more about the nutrients available in your food at this page.

Sometimes those bits of wisdom that “everybody knows” just have to be true.  In this case, yes, carrots really are good for your eyes.

A report at the recent American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) – Middle East-Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) Joint Meeting described how beta carotene can help people with retinitis pigmentosa.

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Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary disease most often marked by the onset of nightblindness during childhood that eventually leads to a loss of peripheral and eventually in many cases blindness.  Previous research has shown beta carotene, 9-cis, can help treat night blindness.  In this study, one third of the retinitis pigmentosa patients under observation showed improved visual function after taking a beta carotene supplement for 90 days. Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/204979.php

Learn more about other natural therapies for retinitis pigmentosa at our website.

For further information on how the nutrients in food can help eye health and overall health, check out this page.

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A proper diet is essential to maintaining eye health.  We know that the diets of the majority of Americans do not meet FDA nutritional guidelines and that many people do not eat an adequate amount of vegetable.

A study published in Nutrition Journal shows that 8 to 16 ounces of vegetable juice per day can reduce blood pressure in people who have hypertension. Source: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/9/1/38

We consider daily juicing of primarily organic vegetables and fruits to be an essential part of any long term healing program. Juicing provides a highly effective and efficient way for the body to be able to absorb essential nutrients into the blood and cells, taking a little as a few minutes for the body to start utilizing these nutrients.  Learn more about how you can make daily juice intake part of your life and increase your overall health.  Also, have a look at some specific juicing recipes for eye conditions and diseases.

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It’s common to hear that you should get plenty of vitamin C if you are fighting a cold, but have you heard that you should increase your vitamin C intake to ward off glaucoma?

In parts of Europe and Asia, vitamin C is considered part of routine treatment for glaucoma. It lowers eye pressure by both decreasing fluid production in the eye and improving the outflow of aqueous humor from the eye. It also improves collagen metabolism which may be one of the underlying reasons for the development of glaucoma.

In addition to eating your citrus fruits, also add red peppers and tomatoes to your diet.

Click here for more tips on how to prevent glaucoma naturally.

For more research on glaucoma prevention and treatment, visit our website.

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Everyone knows that a lack of sleep can cause dark circles under your eyes, but did you know that genetics, the medications that you take, and hormones can also be cause those unsightly smudges to appear?

Any medications that you are taking that causes blood vessels to dilate, can cause circles under the eyes to darken. Because the skin under the eyes is very delicate, any increase blood flow shows right through.
The skin can also become more pale during pregnancy and menstruation, which again allows the underlying veins in the skin beneath the eyes to become more visible.

So, what can be done about it?

It’s true – one of the best natural remedies for dark circles is getting eight hours of sleep per night.

In addition to getting enough rest, you should also be sure you’re eating right.  Eat a whole-foods, plant-based diet; drink plenty of water (eight 8-ounce glasses daily); and avoid alcohol, coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks. Changing your food intake will bring you a a long way as you try to prevent bags, circles, and wrinkles around your eyes. Also, consider taking supplements specifically formulated to support eye health.

For home remedies that really work using what you have in your kitchen including tea bags, turmeric, potatoes, and lemons, visit our website.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (pigmentosis) is a progressive degenerative disorder of the retina that can cause a profound loss of vision. Various hereditary patterns have been reported. This disease affects 1 out of 3700 people.

A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology showed that taking 15,000 IU of Vitamin A per day can slow the progression of retinitis pigmentosa.  On the other hand, this same study showed that taking Vitamin E supplements actually accelerated vision decline.

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The conventional medical opinion posits that there is no treatment or cure for retinitis pigmentosa, but we believe that a progressive approach to maintaining a healthful diet and lifestyle can slow down RP, and, in some cases, even help to preserve vision.  In addition to Vitamin A, supplementing the diet with lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, other antioxidants and COQ10 have all been shown to benefit RP sufferers.

For more information on retinitis pigmentosa research, visit our website.

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Vitamin A deficiency is uncommon in the U.S., but it affects many people in the developing world.  One of first symptoms of a vitamin A deficiency is night blindness, which, if untreated can develop into full scale blindness.  According to the World Health Organization Report on Vitamin A Deficiency, night blindness is estimated to affect 5.2 million preschool-age children and 9.8 million pregnant women around the globe.

Writing on a recent case in The Lancet, doctors who treated a pregnant woman who came to the emergency room after several weeks of progressive sight loss described this particular case, “Vitamin A deficiency can be secondary to poor intestinal absorption due to weight loss surgery, Crohn’s disease or pancreatic dysfunction. Our patient had anorexia nervosa and had limited her diet to white onions, white potatoes, and red meat for the past 7 years.”

We usually recommend taking vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A with a small amount of fat in the diet. Food sources of vitamin A include: yellow and orange vegetables (including yams, carrots, mangoes, cantaloupe, apricots, butternut squash,and sweet potatoes), and asparagus, spinach, kale, bok choy.  If you wish for additional supplementation, the recommended dose is approximately 15,000 to 25,000 I.U. of beta-carotene daily.

Learn more about food as sources of vital nutrients at our website.

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An egg a day can protect people over age 60 from developing macular degeneration.  A study published in the Journal of Nutrition the levels of powerful antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin in participants’ blood increased between 26 and 38% if they ate one egg per day.

The single egg did not contribute to participants’ cholesterol levels.

Studies have proven that low eye levels of antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, could contribute to Aged-Related Macular Degeneration.

Find more research abstracts on macular degeneration on our website.