Dr. Grossman’s Blog

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Time spent in bright artificial light before bedtime has been linked to heightened blood pressure and an increased diabetes risk.

Researchers set to publish their findings in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism describe how nighttime exposure to light can disrupt melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep cycles as well as blood pressure.  The study shows that being in bright light opposed to dim light caused the body to produce less melatonin.  Participants who were exposed to bright light during typical sleep hours produced an average of 50% less melatonin.

According to a news release from the Endocrine Society: “Given that chronic light suppression of melatonin has been hypothesized to increase relative risk for some types of cancer and that melatonin receptor genes have been linked to type 2 diabetes, our findings could have important health implications for shift workers who are exposed to indoor light at night over the course of many years,” says study author Joshua Gooley.

Source: http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docID=648869

Of course, trying to read or work on the computer in low light situations can contribute to eye disease can can harm your vision. Since sleep is important to eye health and health in general and is so key to keeping those dark circles away, maybe it is time to consider becoming a morning person!

Learn more about how to prevent and treat diabetes naturally at 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.

Due to hormonal shifts during pregnancy, a woman’s vision can undergo changes during those nine months and can make her eyeglass or contact prescription temporarily uncomfortable.  This is quite normal and vision can be expected to return to its normal state after the birth.

Blurred vision or spots in one’s vision is a cause for concern, however and could indicate high blood pressure that can cause other serious health problems, including detachment of the retina.  Gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that is generally temporary and lasts for the duration of the pregnancy, can also be marked by blurred vision which can mark unsafe increases in blood sugar.

Sources: CNIB and American Pregnancy Association.