Scientists have confirmed that the healthful substances found in green tea — renowned for their powerful antioxidant and disease-fighting properties — do penetrate into tissues of the eye. It is encouraging news for the millions of senior citizens battling glaucoma and other eye diseases.

Their new report, the first documenting how the lens, retina, and other eye tissues absorb these substances, raises the possibility that green tea may protect against glaucoma and other common eye diseases. It appears in ACS’s bi-weekly Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Chi Pui Pang and colleagues point out that so-called green tea “catechins” have been among a number of antioxidants thought capable of protecting the eye. Those include vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

Until now, however, nobody knew if the catechins in green tea actually passed from the stomach and gastrointestinal tract into the tissues of the eye.

Pang and his colleagues resolved that uncertainty in experiments with laboratory rats that drank green tea.

Analysis of eye tissues showed beyond a doubt that eye structures absorbed significant amounts of individual catechins.

The retina, for example, absorbed the highest levels of gallocatechin, while the aqueous humor tended to absorb epigallocatechin. The effects of green tea catechins in reducing harmful oxidative stress in the eye lasted for up to 20 hours.

“Our results indicate that green tea consumption could benefit the eye against oxidative stress,” the report concludes.

• It reduces pain and allows us to tolerate discomfort.
• It reduces blood sugar levels, increasing glucose tolerance in diabetics and non diabetics alike.
• It improves your job performance, especially if your work depends on creativity and solving complex problems.
• Its role in intimate relationships is vastly underestimated and it really is the glue of good marriages.
• It synchronizes the brains of speaker and listener so that they are emotionally attuned.
• Laughter establishes — or restores — a positive emotional climate and a sense of connection between two people.

In fact, some researchers believe that the major function of laughter is to bring people together. And all the health benefits of laughter may simply result from the social support that laughter stimulates. Now comes hard new evidence that laughter helps your blood vessels function better. It acts on the inner lining of blood vessels, called the endothelium, causing vessels to relax and expand, increasing blood flow. In other words, it’s good for your heart and brain, two organs that require the steady flow of oxygen carried in the blood.

This is the perfect month to laugh it up! Take part in some of our daily activities and you will surely have a few good laughs…

• Exercise tolerance declines
• Body fat increases
• Muscles decrease in size and become weaker
• Bone depth decreases

These changes make simple tasks hard and increase the risk of injury. Inactive people also have an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, thinning of the bones, and other diseases. Lack of strength is the number one reason for falls in the elderly. Strength training, or weight training, can prevent and even reverse these changes. Overloading the muscle develops strength. Proper strength training makes muscles stronger by asking them to do more than usual. This is called overload and means lifting more weight than one usually lifts. The body responds to this challenge by becoming stronger. Strength training must be done slowly and carefully.

It takes hard work to develop one’s strength and muscle potential. A simple beginner program is a full-body routine performed 3 times per week. Perform 2 or 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions per muscle group. Begin with a light exercise program. Exercise slowly with good posture, full range of motion, and regular breathing. Never hold your breath while lifting weights. Many household items can be used as weights. Beginners do not need to buy expensive equipment or join a health club.

A group of Danish scientists have recently studied 36 patients between the ages of 60 and 86 after they had a simple hip-replacement surgery. The subjects did three resistance-training workouts per week for 12 weeks, and increased their muscle strength by over 29 percent at both fast and slow speeds of movement. They also increased the size of their slow and fast muscle fibers by 17 percent and 37 percent respectively. In addition, the subjects were able to boost their stair-walking power by 35 percent. The researchers found that this was related to the increase in their fast-muscle fibers.

Regular exercise is associated with:

• Improved heart and blood vessel related strength and function
• Improved cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Decreased incidence of obesity
• Reduced incidence of diabetes, heart disease and stroke
• Decreased incidence of bone loss, falls and bone fractures
• Improved osteoarthritis symptoms
• Improved sleep, mood, and memory
• Decreased incidence of cancer
• Decreased rates of disease and illness related to all causes

Performed properly, strength training should maintain or even increase a joint’s range of movement. It strengthens bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and improves fitness and health. It can also help prevent accidents and injuries as well as speed recovery if an injury does occur. It improves one’s ability to do everyday chores and activities. Strength training can and should be done for a lifetime!

You can adapt to a low-sodium diet faster than you think, reports the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Researchers had 354 volunteers follow three diets for 30 days each. One contained 1,200 milligrams of sodium per day, one 2,300 mg (within the recommended amount), and one 3,500 mg (the amount most U.S. adults get). Afterward, subjects were willing to continue the 2,300 milligram diet rather than return to a high sodium diet. Americans may associate good taste with lots of salt – until they make a habit of eating lower sodium foods and realize the taste doesn’t tank. Start by cutting out 50 milligrams per week (that’s your Friday Coke), says lead study author Eva Obarzanek, Ph.D., R.D.

Five nutrients can help older adults live independently longer and folic acid can reduce birth defects, in a new study by The Lewin Group (an independent healthcare cost-analysis firm in Falls Church, Virginia, serving the U.S. government and industry). Researchers reviewed the scientific literature on six nutrients – calcium with vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein with zeaxanthin, and folic acid – and concluded that many high-quality studies show clear relationships between the supplements and better health. Study authors stated, “A growing body of scientific research is beginning to provide important clues about how diet choices affect health.”

Doctors cited evidence that 1,200 mg of calcium with vitamin D per day reduced bone loss and hip fractures in the elderly, cut hospital trips to repair the hip and reduced stays at skilled nursing care facilities.

Focusing on heart studies, researchers found that 1,800 mg of omega-3s per day effectively cut the risk of coronary events including heart attack, restricted heart blood flow, fat and calcium deposits on blood-vessel walls, inflammation and blockages.

Lutein and zeaxanthin – the yellow-colored antioxidants that collect in the eye and protect vision – are essential nutrients that must come from the diet. Researchers determined that taking 6-10mg of lutein with zeaxanthin per day significantly reduced the risk of going blind in the center of the field of vision (age-related macular degeneration or AMD), a major cause of older adults losing the ability to live independently. Doctors believe poor vision causes 18% of all hip fractures.

If one-quarter of the 44 million U.S. women of child-bearing age who do not take folic acid began taking 400 mcg of folic acid per day, 600 babies could be born without neural tube defects, researchers stated.

If those at risk for bone, heart, eye and birth diseases took these supplements during the five years from 2008 to 2012, researchers project $24 billion in health savings to Medicare and other insurers.

Recent studies have also discovered that the rise of obesity rates is being fueled by Americans’ love of fast food. How much fast food do you eat a week? The average American eats three hamburgers and four orders of French fries each week. Approximately half of the country’s family food budgets are spent in restaurants, with fast food restaurants accounting for a large portion of the spending.

In addition to obesity, eating fast food regularly has a number of other adverse health effects:

• People who eat fast food twice a week or more are 50 % more likely to become over weight.

• Fast food contains high levels of transfat. Transfat is not a natural fat. It is created during the processing of natural fats, and because it is not a natural fat, the body cannot process it. Transfat has been linked to obesity as well as increased risks of heart disease and cancer.

• Fast food doubles the risk of abnormal glucose control, which is the inability to break down sugar efficiently. Abnormal glucose control often foreshadows diabetes.

Obesity and the other negative health effects of fast food are a result of both the high levels of calories and fat that is found in the food, as well as the large portions. A double quarter pounder with cheese contains 740 calories and 44 grams of fat. A pepperoni personal pan pizza has 800 calories and 39 grams of fat. These numbers do not even include the large sodas or orders of french fries that often come as part of the meal. You do not have to choose the large portion meal, but many Americans find it hard to resist an extra-large soda and order of French fries for only a few cents more than the small. While the monetary price difference is small, the health risk difference is huge. The total average calories for a fast food meal amounts to approximately 1,600. This is more calories than some people should eat in an entire day. The total fat numbers also tend to be higher than the amount of fat that a person should consume in one day.

The adverse health effects connected with fast food can be avoided. Diabetes as a result of eating habits is obviously avoidable and obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death, following smoking. New studies have showed how life expectancy is shortened for those who are overweight and even further shortened by obesity. Those who are overweight at 40 are estimated to live three years less than healthy people and those who are obese at 40 are estimated to live six to seven years less. Smoking doubles these numbers even more. A middle-aged obese smoker can subtract 13 to 14 years from their life expectancy.

One of the best ways to prevent obesity and early death due to obesity is to cut fast food out of your diet. Those who do not eat fast food have much lower levels of obesity and therefore have higher life expectancies.

Don’t you think that your keeping your body healthy is one of the most important aspects of your life? Prevent obesity, the second leading cause of preventable death, blast fast food from your diet!

The different kinds of fats…

Fats are broken down into three groups- saturated fats, mono-unsaturated fats, and poly-unsaturated fats. Poly-unsaturated fats are then further broken down into two groups- omega 3 and omega 6 fats. Each type of fat is equally important to the body because the body uses the different types for different things. Most foods that are found in nature contain a combination of the three. Some foods that are high in saturated fats are butter, cheese, milk, and coconut. Foods that are high in mono-unsaturated fats include avocado, nuts, and olive oil.

Omega 3 and omega 6 fats are especially important because they contain essential fats that the body cannot make on its own, so you need to obtain them from an outside source. Most Americans are consuming too many omega 6 fats and not enough omega 3 fats. This is due to processed foods that are made with partially hydrogenated soybean oil, which is high in omega 6 fats. Ideally, the consumption of omega 6 to omega 3 fats should be in a 2:1 ratio. With a high consumption of omega 6 fats, it is important to try to balance the ratio by increasing consumption in omega 3 fats. Some foods that are high in omega 3 fats are walnuts, flax seeds, sardines, and cold water fish, such as salmon.

The bad fats…

Fats are good when they are natural and in unprocessed foods. They become bad after they are damaged by exposure to heat, light, and oxygen. Fats are often damaged during food processing, when they are exposed to the high heats and chemicals that are used by the manufacturers. Partial hydrogenation is a process that is used to give oils a longer shelf life, which damages the fats and creates Transfat. Transfat is a normal fat molecule that has been deformed during the hydrogenation process. It is not normal to the body, so the body does not know how to process it. Studies have linked Transfat with many health risks, including heart disease and cancer. Manufacturers are now required to include Transfat on nutrition labels. Some foods that contain this bad type of fat are margarine, fried fast food, doughnuts, and processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils.

Poly-unsaturated fats can also be easily damaged, creating dangerous fats. Cooking with flax seed oil for example, damages the fats. Therefore, oils that are high in mono-unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, or saturated fats, such as coconut oil, are best for cooking. The heat does not damage them.

How the good fats are excellent for your health…

• Fats are used in all parts of the human body. They compose 60% of the brain and are essential to brain functioning. This includes moods, memory retention, and learning abilities.

• The heart also uses fat to function. 60% of the heart’s energy comes from burning fat. It is also used to keep the heart beating on a regular rhythm.

• The lungs require a high level of saturated fats in order to work correctly and keep from collapsing.

• Fats insulate nerves and well-insulated nerves are able to transmit chemical signals faster.

• Fats help slow down the digestion process, which gives the body more time to absorb the food’s nutrients. This also keeps you feeling full longer.

How to get good fats into your diet…

Eating good fats is essential to a healthy diet and there are many ways to incorporate them into your meals. Eat natural foods that have not been through any processing with heat. This includes raw nuts, seeds, avocados, or olives. Cook with oils that have been processed as little as possible. Make your own salad dressings using pure oils. Make sure you get enough omega 3 fats into your diet. Avoid animal fats. And finally, avoid foods that contain partially hydrogenated oil.

By getting healthy fats into your diet, you will be on your way to living as a healthier person!

What’s the difference between conventional food and organic food?

The main difference between conventional food and organic food is the way the food is grown and processed. Conventional food can contain chemicals from fertilizers and insecticides, but organic foods are grown with natural fertilizers, crop rotation, and animals are given space to roam freely. There are legal standards that need to be met in order for food to be marked organic. These standards include:

• The food must be grown in soil that does not contain chemicals including, sewage sludge, potassium chloride, or lead salts. The soil must be free of such chemicals for at least three years before the first organic harvest.

• Food cannot be modified in any way. This includes use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms), irradiation and additives.

• Organic food must be kept separate from non-organic food through all of the stages of growing and processing.

• Organic livestock must be fed food that is 100 percent organic.

• The animals must have access to the outdoors, including room for appropriate exercise.

What are the negative effects of pesticides in conventional food?

Mount Sinai School of Medicine conducted a study that tested for pollutants in the human body. An average of 84 chemicals was found in an individual’s blood, some of which had been outlawed for years. This is known as the “chemical body burden” and has been linked to developmental delays, motor dysfunction, and behavioral disorders.

GMOs or genetically modified organisms can also have negative health impacts. Genetic engineering in food began in order to try to increase the benefits that can be found in certain types of fruits and vegetables. Beginning in 1994, genetically engineered foods could be found in supermarkets. The possible negative health effects associated with GMOs include new or unknown allergies, decreased levels of nutrition, increased levels the toxins and antibiotic resistance.

As concern over food-borne illness has increased, many countries have approved food irradiation, which is the exposure of food to a small amount of radiation in order to kill bacteria, such as E.coli and Salmonella. During the radiation, the food is exposed to known carcinogens, but the risks to the consumer are still unknown.

What are the benefits of eating organic foods?

Not only do organic foods eliminate the dangers posed by pesticides, GMOs, and irradiation, but they also provide additional health benefits of their own.

• Organic foods contain more antioxidants than conventional foods. Pesticides used in the growing of conventional food reduce the plant’s chemicals that create antioxidants.

• Organic foods have higher levels of magnesium, iron, calcium, and vitamin C, among other nutrients.

Where can I buy organic foods?

Organic foods can be found in most supermarkets or groceries. Ask your grocer if your store carries organic food. If not, they may be able to begin to order more or direct you to a nearby store that does carry organic foods. Once you start eating organic foods, you will be well on your way to an improved diet that will leave you feeling healthier than ever!