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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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.

Studies done by researchers in England in the late 90’s found that eating a diet with sufficient amounts of the anti-oxidant carotenoids such as alpha- and beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein reduced the risk of certain types of cataracts. These researchers found:

• People with the highest blood concentrations of either alpha- or beta-carotene were 30-50% less likely to develop “nuclear cataracts”—those cataracts located in the center (the nucleus) of the lens.
• People with high blood levels of lycopene (found in high concentrations in cooked tomatoes) were associated with a 60% lower risk of “cortical cataracts”—those cataracts located in the outer layer of the lens. (Are those Italians on to something?)
• And people with high lutein concentrations were 50% less likely to develop “posterior subcapular cataracts”—those cataracts located toward the bottom rear of the lens.

The study shows that a diet rich in antioxidants can reduce the risk of cataracts. So what are carotenoids? Carotenoids are yellow, orange, and red pigments synthesized by plants. Common foods highest in alpha- and beta-carotene are:

• Pumpkin
• Carrots and carrot juice.
• (And for beta-carotene add sweet potato.)

Carotenoids are best absorbed with fat in a meal. Chopping, pureeing, and cooking carotenoid-containing vegetables in oil generally increases the bioavailability of the carotenoids they contain.

Common foods highest in Lutein are:

• Spinach
• Kale
• Collards

Also, interestingly enough, several epidemiological studies found that men with high intakes of lycopene from tomatoes and tomato products were less likely to develop prostate cancer than men with low intakes.

More and more it seems modern science is finding out what mothers have known for centuries … Eat your vegetables. They’re good for you!

You can also read what others say about natural products that help cataracts.

References: Gale CR, Hall NF, Phillips DI, et al. “Plasma antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids and age-related cataract.” Ophthalmology, 2001;108:1992-1998.

Jacques PF, Chylack LT. Jr., Hankinson SE, et al. “Long-term nutrient intake and early age-related nuclear lens opacities,” Archives of Ophthalmology, 2001;119:1009-1019.

Jane Higdon, Ph.D., Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, “Carotenoids—Alpha-Carotene, Beta-Carotene, Beta-Cryptoxanthin, Lycopene, Lutein and Zeaxanthin.”

Here are some practical things you can do about floaters, those small dark shapes that seem to float through your field of vision.

They may look like dots, squiggles, strands or any of a hundred other shapes. Though annoying, floaters are harmless, and there are ways to prevent them through proper diet.

Warning: If you suddenly become aware of new spots in your vision, see your eye doctor right away to rule out serious problems.

Maintain a healthy diet:

1. The Vision Diet – recommended in Natural Eye Care: An Encyclopedia on CD, authored by Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac. and Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac. This CD covers 29 major eye conditions including Floaters with specific nutrient, diet, exercise and juicing instructions by eye condition, plus much more.
2. Daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic). Our floater recipe is some combination of the following: garlic, parsley, beets, carrots, celery, parsnip, apple, raspberries (not too much fruit). Also see more info on juicing..
3. Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin such as One Plus Multivitamin Formula and/or and organic green drink daily such as Nanogreens
4. For protein, emphasize fish, soy (in moderation), almonds, sunflower seed and sesame seeds. avoid meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products and most other nuts.
5. Eat brown rice and other whole grains instead of refined and processed grains (such as white bread and pasta).
6. Limit your intake of citrus fruit, particularly those high in vitamin C such as tangerines, kiwi fruit, oranges, lemons, papayas and pineapples.
7. Use unsulfered molasses and fruit juices for sweetening instead of white sugar, chocolate or honey.
8. Drink rice, almond or soy milk, herb tea or unsweetened, diluted from fruit juices instead of coffee, tea, alcohol and dairy drinks.
9. Steam or bake foods instead of frying them.
10. Eat lots of vegetables, but avoid the nightshade family(e.g., tomatoes, green peppers, white potatoes and eggplant).
11. Minimize your use of salt.
12. Try to manage your stress. Take up Yoga, Tai Chi, meditation, walks in nature, or prayer on a daily basis.

Complementary Treatment and Recommended Vitamins, Supplements, Herbs & Other Nutritional Products

Essential: ReVision Formula- for overall eye health

Essential: Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula – Whole Food Formula ($37.95 per bottle regular or $27.95 per bottle on automatic delivery).

Very Important: Floater Homeopathic Pellets

Very Important: Hyaluronic Acid 70 mg 60 vcapsules

Important: Clear Focus a liquid based sublingual formula containing Bilberry, Lutein, Ginkgo Biloba and Zeaxanthin.

Important: Milk Thistle Liquid Extract 2oz

Self Help:

Finally, you’ll find the experience of a woman who recovered from floaters and vitreous detachment to be quite interesting.

Someone just asked about juicing recipes for best’s disease and optic neuritis.

For best’s disease we recommend daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic) – some combination of the following: ginger, garlic, leeks, parsley, beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, spinach, apples, grapes, raspberries, lemon, chlorophyll, wheat grasses (not too much fruit). See the discussion of best’s disease for other points

For optic neuritis (again, see the discussion for more info), we recommend: ginger, parsley, beets, cabbage, carrots, endive, chlorophyll, wheat grasses, berries (all organic preferably)

I should mention that there are quite a number of drugs which can harm your eyes – all of the following have the potential to contribute to glaucoma and other vision problems.

• NSAID’s-(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Bayer, Aleve), flurbiprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen sodium. Also Tylenol (acetaminophen), though not an NSAID, can be harmful.
• Venlafaxine
• Steroids – cortisone prescriptions such as Prednisone are the most damaging drugs to the eyes of any prescription drugs. If you must take any of these drugs, be sure to supplement your diet with anti-oxidants such as vitamins E and C, and beta-carotene. Ask your doctor if you can replace Prednisone with a natural cortisone such as hydrocortisone.
• Simvastatin
• Fenfluramine
• Mirtazapine
• Gastic antispasmodics
• Antidepressants

A much safer course than automatically taking a lot of drugs, ie, for a headache, is to look at other contributing factors and make lifestyle changes in the amount of rest you get, the amount of exercise you get, your diet, levels of stress in your life, and so forth.

What are the conventional treatment options for glaucoma? Do they work?

Treatment depends on the nature and severity of each case. Commonly, open angle glaucoma is treated with eyedrops or oral medications. In the event this treatment does not lower the eye pressure inside the eye, laser therapy or surgery may be necessary. There are no guarantees!

What about alternative treatment?

Since we consider most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in getting and maintaining good vision. Below are some recommendations:

• Studies show patients can reduce their eye pressure by five to seven millimeters with an improved diet and supplement program. In general, a diet high in betacarotene, vitamins C and E, and sulfur-bearing amino acids are recommended. Foods containing those nutrients include garlic, onions, beans, spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, green leafy vegetables, seaweed, apples, oranges and tomatoes.
• The Vision Diet – recommended in Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision, authored by Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac. and Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac. This CD covers 29 major eye conditions including Glaucoma with specific nutrient, diet, exercise and juicing instructions by eye condition, plus much more.
• Daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic). Our glaucoma recipe is some combination of the following: celery, carrots, cucumber, radish, turnip, parsley, beets, cabbage, raspberries, plums, apple (not too much fruit). For more information, go to info about juicing.
• Drink lots of water – 8-10 glasses of purified water. Avoid carbonated, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. They can actually dehydrate your eyes.
• Manage your stress – meditate, take a walk in nature, practice yoga, visualization techniques or prayer on a daily basis.
• Exercise daily – do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.
• Eye exercises can help to bring energy and blood to the eyes, thereby helping to drain away toxins or congestion to the eyes. These are free general eye exercises and acupressure points for overall eye health. See Free Eye Exercises
• Avoid foods to which you are allergic: a study of 113 patients with chronic simple glaucoma showed immediate IOP increases of up to 20 millimeters when they were exposed to foods in to which they were allergic.
• Supplement your diet with a specific eye formula such as the Optic Nerve Formula and an organic green drink daily such as Nanogreens

Juicing Fundamentals II:

What to Juice?

There are many different recipes but in general at least 50-75% of the juicing should consist of greens: spinach, kale, chard, parsley, dandelion, watercress, broccoli, etc.

Sample Juicing Recipes for Specific Eye Conditions

Cataracts, Conjunctivitis
Carrot, spinach, celery, endive, parsley, blueberry, apple

Glaucoma
Celery, carrots, cucumber, radish, turnip, parsley, beets, cabbage, raspberries, plums, apple (not too much fruit).

Macular Degeneration
Broccoli, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, apples, raspberries, greens

Other Conditions

Peptic Ulcers – cabbage juice promotes rapid healing of patients with peptic ulcers

Urinary Tract Infections – cranberry juice is well known to help with bladder and urinary tract infections

Heart Disease – also well known is the beneficial effect of pomegranate juice. Antioxidants (compounds that limit cell damage by fighting free radicals) contained in pomegranate juice may help reduce the formation of fatty deposits on artery walls. The antioxidant level in pomegranate juice was found to be higher than that in other natural juices, such as blueberry, cranberry, and orange juices, as well as red wine.

Resources
N.W. Walker, D.Sc. – “Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices: what’s missing in your body?
Michael T. Murray, N.D. – “The Complete Book of Juicing”

Paul Pitchford, N.D. – “Healing with Whole Foods”

Research on peptic ulcers & cabbage juice
Research on UTI & cranberry juice

Juicing Fundamentals I:

What are enzymes?

The basic key to the efficacy of nourishing your body is the life present in food and of those intangible elements known as enzymes. Enzymes are complex substances that enable us to digest food and absorb it into our blood. They are the body’s ‘working force’ that act as catalysts for many essential life functions, such as separating the nitrogen from the air we breath, so we may absorb the oxygen. They act as catalysts in probably millions of chemical reactions that take place throughout the body. They are essential for the digestion and absorption of the food we eat and drink … for conversion of food to body tissue, and for the production of energy at the cellular level.

Enzymes become sluggish at cooking temperatures above 118 degrees, and are destroyed at temperatures above 130 degrees (microwaves completely destroy enzymes in your food).
Fresh juices are a wonderful source of enzymes. Food which has been cooked at temperatures above 118 simply don’t have the properly functioning enzymes to allow you to enjoy the full benefits of their nutrients.

Why not just eat fruits and vegetables for our essential nutrients?

Solid food requires many hours of digestive activity before its nourishment is finally available to the cells and tissues of the body. While fibers in foods are essential for helping cleanse our digestive tract, the removal of fibers in the extraction of juices allows essential nutrients to be absorbed within minutes instead of hours, and with little effort by our body.

Do vegetables contain protein?

Although fruits and vegetables do not contain large quantities of protein, their juice can be a convenient carrier. Simply add some brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, or whole grains to whatever you’re juicing. These give you protein without the fat that meat contains, and protein that is quickly and easily absorbed by the body.

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.

Why is juicing so important?

1. What are enzymes? The basic key to the efficacy of nourishing your body is the life present in food and of those intangible elements known as enzymes. Â See more info …
2. Why not just eat fruits and vegetables for our essential nutrients? Solid food requires many hours of digestive activity before its nourishment is finally available to the cells and tissues of the body. See more info …
3. Can juicing prevent disease? Many studies point out that a diet high in fruits and vegetables does in fact reduce the incidents of serious disease.
4. Do vegetables contain protein? Although fruits and vegetables do not contain large quantities of protein, their juice can be a convenient carrier. See more info …
5. What are phytochemicals? They are substances in plants that are linked to good health and to prevention of specific diseases. They are found only in fruits and vegetables, and juicing is a great way to get them.
6. How much juicing can be taken safely? As much as one can drink comfortably without forcing oneself. Recommended amount of juice per day is at least 1 pint per day. Some healing centers actually do 2-8 pints per day for therapeutic purposes.
7. Can I store the juice I make? Juices should generally be drunk when prepared, since certain enzymes and vitamins break down pretty quickly in sunlight.
8. What combinations of fruits and vegetables would be best to juice? There are many different recipes See more info …, but in general at least 50-75% of the juicing should consist of greens (spinach, kale, chard, parsley, dandelion, watercress, broccoli, etc.)
9. Can I still continue to eat fast food and sugar products? These should be kept to an absolute minimum as they use our precious resources to breakdown and digest, offering little in the way of healthy nutrients.
10. Should I use only organic products? In general, yes. By juicing all non-organic products, we stand the chance of taking in concentrated amounts of pesticides used on the plants, thereby negating the value of daily juicing. See more info …
11. What juicer should I use? There are a number of excellent juicers. The juicer we decided to offer on our website is the Omega 8002 juicer, which juices without generating heat that can destroy some of the essential nutrients. At 80 RPM (most juicers work at 3600 RPM and higher), it essentially masticates the fruits and vegetables slowly, preserving the most nutrients possible. The disadvantage is that the process is a little slower, and cleaning takes a couple of more minutes.

Next week I’ll talk about what juices are good for specific diseases.