Dr. Grossman’s Blog

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A new study shows that “perceptual training” can improve vision in older adults.

A study of people over 65 published in the Journal of Vision shows that after undergoing two days of training older adults performed as well on visual processing tests as college aged students.  The participants were able to maintain this higher level of functioning for up to three months.

Researchers say that this shows “a high degree of brain plasticity among the elderly and suggest that this technique is useful for recovering from declines in vision due to normal aging.”  They went on to correlate such improvement in visual abilities with improved safety and quality of life, specifically related to automobile driving. Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/209056.php

Visit this site for free eye exercises related to a number of eye conditions.

Fresh-cut fruits is one of the fastest growing food categories in U.S. supermarkets, but what effect does processing and storage have on the nutritional value of the fruit?

Surprisingly, an international team of scientists has found that cutting and packaging fruit had almost no affect on the main antioxidants.

Their report, published in the Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry, shows that fresh-cut fruit retains vitamin C and other healthful antioxidants after days on the shelf.

The researchers obtained pineapples, mangoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, strawberries and kiwifruits from wholesale commercial sources in California.  The fruit was taken to a laboratory at the University of California in Davis. Half of each lot was processed as fresh-cut and half left whole.

Both lots were refrigerated under identical conditions for nine days and then tested for nutrient content. Tests showed only small losses of antioxidant compounds in the cut fruit compared to fruit left whole. Levels of some antioxidants in fresh-cut mango and watermelon actually increased due to exposure to light.

In general, researchers found that fresh-cut fruits visually spoil before any significant nutrient loss occurs. 

Learn more about antioxidants

Read other articles about the benefits of antioxidants for good eye health

SOURCE:  Quality Changes and Nutrient Retention in Fresh-Cut versus Whole Fruits during Storage, Gil et al, J. Agric. Food Chem., 2006, 54 (12), pp 4284–4296.

You can see Dr. Grossman demonstrate 3 of his favorite eye exercises on youtube. Please feel free to write a nice comment on youtube as this helps to get our video to reach more people.

Don’t forget Dr. Grossman’s free eye exercise e-booklet; – with details for different vision conditions.