Fresh Strawberry Pie
My youngest teen daughter just came home after taking an intense 2-week college course out of state. In honor of her homecoming, I made this dessert. It's loaded with fresh strawberries, one of her favorite things.
A study published in the Archives of Opthalmology showed that eating at least 3 servings of fruit a day reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration by more than one third. A slice of celebratory pie is not such a bad way to get one of those servings.
For this pie I used meijer organic graham crackers. They contain none of the genetically modified beet sugar, canola oil, high fructose corn syrup or soy lecithin found in regular graham crackers. They also do not contain the trans-fat or chemical preservatives found in the regular crackers.
Fresh Strawberry Pie
For crust:
Preheat oven to 350.
1 sleeve organic graham crackers
2 T. cane sugar
1/4 c. melted unsalted organic butter
Crush graham crackers, mix with sugar and butter. Press into an 8" pie plate. Bake 10 min., cool.
For Filling:
2 qts. strawberries, washed, and stemmed
1 c. cane sugar
3 T. organic cornstarch
1/2 c. water
Chop enough strawberries to equal 1 cup. In saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch, stir in water, then add chopped strawberries. Bring to a boil, stir and boil 1 min., let cool.
Place strawberries in pie shell, pour cooked strawberry mixture over them , and chill for 2-3 hours.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Vitamins For Eye Health
To maintain proper eyesight, a nutritious and balanced diet is essential. And when we are talking about diet for the eyes, vitamins are the most important. Doctors recommend vitamins for enhancement of eyesight. A diet rich in vitamins help us to prevent many eye diseases. In fact, proper intake of vitamins may even help to reduce deterioration and improve the vision that occurs due to aging. Substances like omega-3 fatty acids have been identified as helping in vision development right from when we are in the womb. It can also protect the eyes from macular degeneration. Antioxidants are beneficial to counter oxidation effect on eye tissues.
Vitamins are rich in antioxidants and other compounds. Oxidation causes cataracts thus hampering vision. The body counters this effect by using antioxidants present in Vitamins C, E, A and carotenoid. The red and yellow pigments called carotenoid are present in plants and animals. It helps in converting beta-carotene into Vitamin A and fights cataracts by absorbing blue light. Other carotenoids like zeaxanthin and lutein are also beneficial.
Vitamin A is found in green, orange and yellow vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, corn, and also in egg yolks and liver. It helps to fight night blindness and cataracts and improves night vision. If the night blindness deficiency is not corrected, it can lead to xerophthalmia. Eyes become dry, eyelids get swollen and corneal ulcers occur. Smokers and drinkers should take in extra Vitamin A supplements as tobacco and alcohol decrease the Vitamin A content in the body. However, beta-carotene supplements increase smokers' incidence of lung cancer.
Vitamin C is found in green, leafy vegetables and citrus fruits like broccoli, potatoes, peppers, oranges, berries, strawberries. It reduces the pressure in glaucoma patients' eyes, delays macular degeneration and reduces cataract risk. Our body can neither create Vitamin C nor store it for long in the body. Almost any food that has Vitamin C also contains bioflavonoid. Not only it helps the eyes, it also helps the body to absorb Vitamin C. Cherries, grapes and plums are rich in bioflavonoid.
Sunflower seeds and nuts like almonds, hazelnuts etc are the main sources of Vitamin E. Studies show the vitamin helps to prevent cataracts. Many eye doctors suggest their patients to take a multivitamin rich in Vitamin E along with a balanced diet. Minerals like selenium helps the body to absorb Vitamin E. Brazil nuts, yeast and sea foods like oysters are rich in selenium.
Ideally, it is best to get our daily doses of vitamins from our everyday fruits and vegetables. However, due to nutrient depletion in soil and use of pesticides, fruits and vegetables often have less vitamin content. Cooking, heat and light also lead to the lowering of vitamin content. Try to buy foods that are marked as organic. They have the required vitamin content needed by our bodies. Salads are rich in vitamin because uncooked vegetables and fruits are used to make it. Vitamin supplements help to counter the reduction in our daily dosage of nutrients. Multivitamins that are specifically for the eye should be taken. But before starting on any supplement, it is best to take the opinion of a doctor.
Vitamins are rich in antioxidants and other compounds. Oxidation causes cataracts thus hampering vision. The body counters this effect by using antioxidants present in Vitamins C, E, A and carotenoid. The red and yellow pigments called carotenoid are present in plants and animals. It helps in converting beta-carotene into Vitamin A and fights cataracts by absorbing blue light. Other carotenoids like zeaxanthin and lutein are also beneficial.
Vitamin A is found in green, orange and yellow vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, corn, and also in egg yolks and liver. It helps to fight night blindness and cataracts and improves night vision. If the night blindness deficiency is not corrected, it can lead to xerophthalmia. Eyes become dry, eyelids get swollen and corneal ulcers occur. Smokers and drinkers should take in extra Vitamin A supplements as tobacco and alcohol decrease the Vitamin A content in the body. However, beta-carotene supplements increase smokers' incidence of lung cancer.
Vitamin C is found in green, leafy vegetables and citrus fruits like broccoli, potatoes, peppers, oranges, berries, strawberries. It reduces the pressure in glaucoma patients' eyes, delays macular degeneration and reduces cataract risk. Our body can neither create Vitamin C nor store it for long in the body. Almost any food that has Vitamin C also contains bioflavonoid. Not only it helps the eyes, it also helps the body to absorb Vitamin C. Cherries, grapes and plums are rich in bioflavonoid.
Sunflower seeds and nuts like almonds, hazelnuts etc are the main sources of Vitamin E. Studies show the vitamin helps to prevent cataracts. Many eye doctors suggest their patients to take a multivitamin rich in Vitamin E along with a balanced diet. Minerals like selenium helps the body to absorb Vitamin E. Brazil nuts, yeast and sea foods like oysters are rich in selenium.
Ideally, it is best to get our daily doses of vitamins from our everyday fruits and vegetables. However, due to nutrient depletion in soil and use of pesticides, fruits and vegetables often have less vitamin content. Cooking, heat and light also lead to the lowering of vitamin content. Try to buy foods that are marked as organic. They have the required vitamin content needed by our bodies. Salads are rich in vitamin because uncooked vegetables and fruits are used to make it. Vitamin supplements help to counter the reduction in our daily dosage of nutrients. Multivitamins that are specifically for the eye should be taken. But before starting on any supplement, it is best to take the opinion of a doctor.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
"Understanding Antioxidants and How They Can Benefit You"
Most of you are probably familiar with antioxidants, as it seems every company offering a supplement or food product uses that word as part of their marketing campaign. Even though it has become a part of our nutritional vocabulary, its' meaning may be somewhat unclear.
It appears that, in some way, the word seems to be related to oxygen, but how? On this page, I discuss what they are, and do, the most common ones, and common food sources.
What Are They and How Do They Work?
As we began our exploration of antioxidants, let's first break the word down into its component parts, okay? It can be broken down into two main parts: anti- and oxidant.
Most of us know what the first part, anti, means, obviously, it means against. But the second part, oxidant, may not be readily apparent.
Although oxygen is essential to human life, it can put into motion in your body a process that can have dangerous consequences. Oxidation occurs when a molecule loses an electron.
That molecule then becomes something we've discussed numerous times on this site, a free radical.
It is thought that free radicals attack every single cell in your body approximately 10,000 times a day. Unfortunately, as we age, the number of free radicals in our body increases.
From a cellular perspective, that free radical, at the very best, is a cell that doesn't perform the job it was originally designed to do.
At its worst, these altered cells can metamorphosize into more serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and macular degeneration.
If you've ever observed a peeled apple starting to turn brown after being exposed to the air for a few minutes, you're witnessing just how destructive oxidation can be.
What Benefits Do They Provide?
Here is a list of some of the advantages of antioxidants:
* Improvements in cognitive function - Cognitive function involves an improved ability to use information to meet the demands of everyday living.
* Slowing, even preventing, the development of cancer.
* Making you less likely to develop a cold, the flu, or viruses or infections
* Preventing the development of glaucoma and macular degeneration
* Slowing the aging process
* Reduced risk of developing heart disease
What Supplements Are Considered Antioxidants?
Here is a list of supplements that have antioxidant qualities and some foods where they can typically be found:
* Beta-carotene - broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes
* Vitamin C - Citrus fruits like oranges and lime, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries, tomatoes
* Vitamin E - green leafy vegetables, nuts & seeds, vegetable oil, whole grains
* Selenium - chicken, eggs, fish, garlic, red meat
Here is a list of common phytochemicals:
* Alpha lipoic acd
* Flavonoids including anthocynidins, isoflavonoids, flavonols, flavones. Good food sources are fruits, vegetables, green tea, soybeans
* Grape seed extract
* Phenolic acids including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, coumaric acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid. Good food sources are berries, cherries, grapes, whole grains
* Quercetin
* Tannins including catechins. Good food sources are beans, grapes, lentils, tea
* Organosulfur compounds including allicin in garlic
It appears that, in some way, the word seems to be related to oxygen, but how? On this page, I discuss what they are, and do, the most common ones, and common food sources.
What Are They and How Do They Work?
As we began our exploration of antioxidants, let's first break the word down into its component parts, okay? It can be broken down into two main parts: anti- and oxidant.
Most of us know what the first part, anti, means, obviously, it means against. But the second part, oxidant, may not be readily apparent.
Although oxygen is essential to human life, it can put into motion in your body a process that can have dangerous consequences. Oxidation occurs when a molecule loses an electron.
That molecule then becomes something we've discussed numerous times on this site, a free radical.
It is thought that free radicals attack every single cell in your body approximately 10,000 times a day. Unfortunately, as we age, the number of free radicals in our body increases.
From a cellular perspective, that free radical, at the very best, is a cell that doesn't perform the job it was originally designed to do.
At its worst, these altered cells can metamorphosize into more serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and macular degeneration.
If you've ever observed a peeled apple starting to turn brown after being exposed to the air for a few minutes, you're witnessing just how destructive oxidation can be.
What Benefits Do They Provide?
Here is a list of some of the advantages of antioxidants:
* Improvements in cognitive function - Cognitive function involves an improved ability to use information to meet the demands of everyday living.
* Slowing, even preventing, the development of cancer.
* Making you less likely to develop a cold, the flu, or viruses or infections
* Preventing the development of glaucoma and macular degeneration
* Slowing the aging process
* Reduced risk of developing heart disease
What Supplements Are Considered Antioxidants?
Here is a list of supplements that have antioxidant qualities and some foods where they can typically be found:
* Beta-carotene - broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes
* Vitamin C - Citrus fruits like oranges and lime, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries, tomatoes
* Vitamin E - green leafy vegetables, nuts & seeds, vegetable oil, whole grains
* Selenium - chicken, eggs, fish, garlic, red meat
Here is a list of common phytochemicals:
* Alpha lipoic acd
* Flavonoids including anthocynidins, isoflavonoids, flavonols, flavones. Good food sources are fruits, vegetables, green tea, soybeans
* Grape seed extract
* Phenolic acids including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, coumaric acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid. Good food sources are berries, cherries, grapes, whole grains
* Quercetin
* Tannins including catechins. Good food sources are beans, grapes, lentils, tea
* Organosulfur compounds including allicin in garlic
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Vitamin supplement phase II results find improvement in macular health for AMD sufferers, study says
Birmingham, AL—Results were released from the second phase of the Multifocal Electroretinogram (MERG) study of patients placed on supplemental vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids—a combination also known as macular health—to improve deteriorating maculas due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
"The conclusions of the new MERG study offer good news to sufferers of age-related macular degeneration," said John O. Mason III, MD, researcher and retina specialist at the Callahan Eye Foundation, the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). "This study is proof that the Macular Health vitamin is an incredible product for sufferers of this life-altering disease."
The study, accepted by the Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) for poster presentation, found that patients taking the Macular Health capsule once daily over a 2-year period had an increase in the health of the macula and better vision compared with a control group that did not take the Macular Health Capsule.
The first phase of the study found a 16 % increase in retinal improvement in patients taking Macular Health for 12 weeks. The second phase found a 17% increase in retinal improvement in the same patients after 2 years of taking Macular Health.
Dr. Mason and a team of retina specialists from UAB will continue to monitor participants in the study to evaluate long-term improvement in eye health and vision due to Macular Health.
"The conclusions of the new MERG study offer good news to sufferers of age-related macular degeneration," said John O. Mason III, MD, researcher and retina specialist at the Callahan Eye Foundation, the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). "This study is proof that the Macular Health vitamin is an incredible product for sufferers of this life-altering disease."
The study, accepted by the Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) for poster presentation, found that patients taking the Macular Health capsule once daily over a 2-year period had an increase in the health of the macula and better vision compared with a control group that did not take the Macular Health Capsule.
The first phase of the study found a 16 % increase in retinal improvement in patients taking Macular Health for 12 weeks. The second phase found a 17% increase in retinal improvement in the same patients after 2 years of taking Macular Health.
Dr. Mason and a team of retina specialists from UAB will continue to monitor participants in the study to evaluate long-term improvement in eye health and vision due to Macular Health.
Eyes at risk from eating a poor diet
Eyes at risk from eating a poor diet
27/04/2009
Millions of people are putting their eyesight at risk with poor diets, experts warned yesterday.
Around 65 per cent of Britons could suffer problems because they are not getting enough vitamins, leafy green vegetables and oily fish.
The College of Optometrists said a good diet can prevent diseases such as Age Related Macular Degeneration.
But a survey found many people do not know of the link between food and eye health.
President Dr Rob Hogan said: "It's surprising so many people don't realise what we eat may affect our eyes.
"Most of us know the link between diet and heart disease, but we often take our eye health for granted." AMD, which damages the retina and leads to blindness, hits 26,000 people every year..
27/04/2009
Millions of people are putting their eyesight at risk with poor diets, experts warned yesterday.
Around 65 per cent of Britons could suffer problems because they are not getting enough vitamins, leafy green vegetables and oily fish.
The College of Optometrists said a good diet can prevent diseases such as Age Related Macular Degeneration.
But a survey found many people do not know of the link between food and eye health.
President Dr Rob Hogan said: "It's surprising so many people don't realise what we eat may affect our eyes.
"Most of us know the link between diet and heart disease, but we often take our eye health for granted." AMD, which damages the retina and leads to blindness, hits 26,000 people every year..
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Hope for preventing age-related blindness
Ed Blonz: Hope for preventing age-related blindness
By Ed Blonz
Contra Costa Times correspondent
Posted: 04/21/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT
DEAR DR. BLONZ: At a recent large family event, I couldn t help but notice that a number of seniors in attendance had vision problems. I learned that it was all due to macular degeneration. What is your view on the use of dietary supplements as a preventive measure? Because it is my family, do I need to be especially concerned? -- C.S., Livingston, N.J.
DEAR C.S.: The back of the eye, called the retina, contains light-sensitive tissue that transmits images to the brain via the optic nerve. The macula is the region of the retina that is responsible for detailed central vision. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States. There is an informational Web site at the National Institutes of Health (tinyurl.com/6mgj92).
The precise cause of AMD is not yet known, but it s thought to involve oxidative damage. There are a number of medical interventions that can slow its process, but there is no cure. Research studies have focused on the identification of risk factors for AMD, and the possible role of dietary antioxidants to reduce the risk or slow the progression.
AMD risk factors include smoking, obesity and genetic history. (It tends to be hereditary in some but not all families.) High blood pressure and high cholesterol are risk factors, and it s slightly more common in women than men.
The supplements being looked at include zinc, vitamins C and E, beta carotene and bilberry. Other studies have looked at
Advertisement
lutein and zeaxanthin, relatives of beta-carotene that are often referred to as macular pigments because they are concentrated in the macula. DHA, a long-chain omega-3 fat found in the retina, is also being studied.
A study in the June 2000 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported how servings of corn and spinach raised blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. A study in the May 2008 issue of the same journal reported that supplements of lutein (12 milligrams per day) and DHA (800 milligrams per day) increased blood levels and macular pigment optical density (a good thing). A major age-related eye disease study is currently under way investigating the effects of dietary supplements with lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids on the incidence of AMD. The results, however, are unlikely to be available for several years. (For details, see the Web site areds2.org.)
An eye exam should be a regular part of your medical checkup. If it is not offered it is essential that it be requested.
Given what we know, it makes sense to pay special attention to antioxidant nutrients in general, and to lutein- and zeaxanthin-rich foods. This is a win-win situation because these nutrients also help reduce the risk of other chronic diseases.
Vegetables are the richest sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. Good food sources, in decreasing concentration, include kale, collard greens, spinach, cress leaf, Swiss chard, chicory leaf, mustard greens, beet greens, red pepper, okra, endive, celery, romaine lettuce, leek, broccoli, leaf lettuce, green peas, pumpkin, iceberg lettuce, Brussels sprouts, yellow corn, yellow pepper and green beans.
Fruits contain lesser amounts, but the best of the lot include avocado, plum, kiwi, pear and grapes.
Supplements do not eliminate the need to eat a healthful diet, but if supplements are to be used, keep in mind that lutein is better absorbed when taken with meals that contain fat.
By Ed Blonz
Contra Costa Times correspondent
Posted: 04/21/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT
DEAR DR. BLONZ: At a recent large family event, I couldn t help but notice that a number of seniors in attendance had vision problems. I learned that it was all due to macular degeneration. What is your view on the use of dietary supplements as a preventive measure? Because it is my family, do I need to be especially concerned? -- C.S., Livingston, N.J.
DEAR C.S.: The back of the eye, called the retina, contains light-sensitive tissue that transmits images to the brain via the optic nerve. The macula is the region of the retina that is responsible for detailed central vision. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States. There is an informational Web site at the National Institutes of Health (tinyurl.com/6mgj92).
The precise cause of AMD is not yet known, but it s thought to involve oxidative damage. There are a number of medical interventions that can slow its process, but there is no cure. Research studies have focused on the identification of risk factors for AMD, and the possible role of dietary antioxidants to reduce the risk or slow the progression.
AMD risk factors include smoking, obesity and genetic history. (It tends to be hereditary in some but not all families.) High blood pressure and high cholesterol are risk factors, and it s slightly more common in women than men.
The supplements being looked at include zinc, vitamins C and E, beta carotene and bilberry. Other studies have looked at
Advertisement
lutein and zeaxanthin, relatives of beta-carotene that are often referred to as macular pigments because they are concentrated in the macula. DHA, a long-chain omega-3 fat found in the retina, is also being studied.
A study in the June 2000 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported how servings of corn and spinach raised blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. A study in the May 2008 issue of the same journal reported that supplements of lutein (12 milligrams per day) and DHA (800 milligrams per day) increased blood levels and macular pigment optical density (a good thing). A major age-related eye disease study is currently under way investigating the effects of dietary supplements with lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids on the incidence of AMD. The results, however, are unlikely to be available for several years. (For details, see the Web site areds2.org.)
An eye exam should be a regular part of your medical checkup. If it is not offered it is essential that it be requested.
Given what we know, it makes sense to pay special attention to antioxidant nutrients in general, and to lutein- and zeaxanthin-rich foods. This is a win-win situation because these nutrients also help reduce the risk of other chronic diseases.
Vegetables are the richest sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. Good food sources, in decreasing concentration, include kale, collard greens, spinach, cress leaf, Swiss chard, chicory leaf, mustard greens, beet greens, red pepper, okra, endive, celery, romaine lettuce, leek, broccoli, leaf lettuce, green peas, pumpkin, iceberg lettuce, Brussels sprouts, yellow corn, yellow pepper and green beans.
Fruits contain lesser amounts, but the best of the lot include avocado, plum, kiwi, pear and grapes.
Supplements do not eliminate the need to eat a healthful diet, but if supplements are to be used, keep in mind that lutein is better absorbed when taken with meals that contain fat.
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