Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Blue Light is Hard on the Eyes Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Blue light is something you may have heard talked about in the news and even all over social media. But just what do we know about this new phenomenon? I wanted to tackle …
Bilberry for Eye Health and More!!!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In this blog we will be talking about Bilberry. Yes you read that correct, bilberry not blueberry. Now I bet your thinking but Dr. Claire what exactly is the difference between a bilberry and blueberry? Well that is exactly what I’m going to tell you. To start with yes bilberry and blueberries are cousins. Bilberry is considered to be the wild fruit of the family and is not cultivated or grown on farms whereas blueberry is the cultured form that you get in the supermarket. Nutritionally bilberry contains 4X the antioxidants of blueberry! Bilberry contains a higher concentration of the antioxidants anthocyanins. Bilberry also contains a higher concentration of vitamins A, C, D and even K! Bilberry and blueberries also look different. While blueberries are blue on the outside and white on the inside bilberries in contrast are dark blue- purple throughout! (1) But this article is on bilberry so let’s move on. To start with just what are the benefits of bilberry? Let’s get into it, shall we?
To start with studies have found that using bilberry can help keep our eyes healthy. (2) In another study it was found when using a combination of pine bark and bilberry there was a reduction in eye pressure, which is important in talking about diseases such as glaucoma. (3) Bilberry has also been found in studies to help reduce the risk of cataracts. (4) As I talked about in my blog on diabetic retinopathy studies have found that bilberry can help to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy. (5)
In addition to helping protect our vision bilberry has other benefits that help keep us healthy. In fact studies have found that bilberry can help to strengthen our blood vessels. Studies have found that bilberry can even help with reducing LDL and improve circulation. Bilberry has even been found to help with poor circulation such as in those who have chronic venous insufficiency. Studies have found that bilberry may even help to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. While more studies are needed in people with diabetes those using bilberry have reported a reduction in blood sugar. (6) In fact according to diabetes. UK bilberry may be useful a useful addition in those looking to lower their glucose levels. Why is this so important? It is important because in diabetes and basically any situation where it’s important to have good control over your diabetes any supplement that can help is always a good addition to your protocol. In fact studies have found that those who have diabetic retinopathy and use bilberry have stronger blood vessels as well as reduced hemorrhaging. (7)
Bilberry has also been used to improve diarrhea due to the fact that it contains tannins which act both as an anti-inflammatory as well as an astringent. (6)
As you can see bilberry is a powerful nutrient. But where exactly can you find bilberry in the Invite Health line of products? It is found in Macula Advanced. But if you’re not a fan of pills it’s also found in the following powders – both Greens Hx and Organic Greens, Reds Hx and Purples Hx! For more information on where to find Bilberry please feel free to contact an Invite nutritionist! Our next topic will be dry eye!
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Diabetic Retinopathy Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that is associated with diabetes. Diabetes as you can guess is a huge health concern. In fact in the United States in 2021 diabetes was found to be the 8th leading cause …
L Carnosine Plus Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Today we will be talking about a product you may have heard of. This product is L Carnosine. Now I just want to point out that in this blog I will be talking about L Carnosine not …
Glaucoma part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Today we will be completing our 2 part blog series on glaucoma. Let’s get right into it, shall we? The symptoms you may experience with glaucoma can vary slightly depending on the type you have. This is due to the differences in what is causing the nerve damage in the different types. Let’s start with open angle glaucoma. As I said in my 1st blog open angle is the most common type of glaucoma. In the beginning stages there is often no symptoms. As the disease progress’s patchy blind spots begin to appear in your peripheral vision. This visual difficulty will eventually extend into your central vision. One of the key note features of acute or closed angle glaucoma is how quickly the symptoms appear. You may experience a sever headache/eye pain, blurry vision and even see halos or rings around light’s. The color of your eyes may become red. On a more systematic note you may experience nausea or vomiting. In normal – tension glaucoma just like we saw in open angle glaucoma it may initially presents with no symptoms. Over time vision will become blurry and this can eventually lead to a loss of peripheral vision. In pigmentary glaucoma you may experience halos around lights. When you exercise your vision may become blurry. As the disease progress’s there is a loss of peripheral vision. Lastly what can you look for in children who may have glaucoma? Children with glaucoma may have headaches and blurry vision. They may have nearsightedness that gets worse over time. As a care giver you may notice that infants have dull or cloudy eyes. There may be an increase in how often they blink. Lastly infants may have tears without crying. (1)
Now what are the most common risk factors for glaucoma? Diabetes is a huge risk factor for glaucoma. In fact for those with diabetes they are twice as likely to get glaucoma as those without diabetes! The less controlled your diabetes the higher the risk of glaucoma becomes. This is just one reason why it is so important to stay in control of any chronic disease you may have or be at risk of developing. Having a previous eye injury or any eye surgery is also a risk factor. Additionally having a family history of glaucoma increases your risk. Having either hypertension or hypotension are both risk factors. Using corticosteroids long term can increase your risk. When it comes to open angle glaucoma myopia, or nearsightedness is a particular risk factor. For closed angle glaucoma hyperopia or farsightedness is a risk factor. (2) Other chronic conditions such as migraines and sickle cell are also risk factors. Being over 55 years old increases your risk for glaucoma. Having corneas that are thin in the center can increase your risk. Having a history of high internal eye pressure is a risk. Lastly certain ethnic groups such as those of African American descent, Asian or Hispanic descent all have a higher risk of developing glaucoma. (1)
How glaucoma is usually treated? Prescriptions usually involve eye drops as well as medications. Surgical options can include laser therapy, filtering surgery, drainage tubes or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. (1)
What can you do in addition to following your doctor’s advice? Well let’s take a look at some things you may want to consider adding into your regime.
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