May 22, 2012

What is a Cataract

What is a Cataract

Article by Jacob Lee









The lens of your eye is a transparent, biconvex structure that lies behind your iris and pupil. Along with the cornea, its role is to focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye. It works a bit like a camera lens and, by changing shape, the lens alters the focal distance of the eye so that the eye can focus on things clearly that are both close up and far away.

The lens itself is mostly made up of water and proteins. The proteins are arranged in a very specific way which keeps the lens clear and allows light to pass through it. However, as we age, some of these proteins may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is the beginnings of a senile cataract. At this point the cataract is referred to as an incipient cataract.

Because the lens is critical in the focusing process and the clarity with which we see things, any changes to it can have a dramatic effect on your ability to see clearly. In the early stages of development a cataract may be very small and may not interfere with your vision at all. However, gradually over time more and more of your lens will become affected – at this point your cataract will be referred to as an immature cataract. As the cataract grows and your lens becomes increasingly cloudy, your vision will become ever more blurred. It’s a bit like looking through frosted glass all the time. Eventually, the entire lens can become cloudy (a mature cataract) and all functional vision will be lost.

Although for many cataracts develop slowly, over months or even years, for some they can develop in just a matter of a few weeks. One or both eyes can be affected. It is important to see your optometrist to get a proper diagnosis and once diagnosed you can consider treatment options including Cataract Eye Drops.



About the Author

Jacob has the vast knowledge in health and doing research on eye drops from past 6 year. He is working with can c eye drops and write the articles on senile cataract, carnosine eye drops and cataract drops.










What is tasty, blue and helps erase wrinkles: The incredible, edible blueberry.

What is tasty, blue and helps erase wrinkles: The incredible, edible blueberry.

Article by Monica Shah









Behold the blueberry: one of summer’s super foods. A small and mighty nutritional force, the blueberry combines more powerful disease-fighting antioxidants then almost any other fruit or vegetable. Just one serving of blueberries provides as many antioxidants as five servings of carrots, apples, broccoli or squash. In fact, 2/3 cup of blueberries gives you the same antioxidant protection as 1,733 IU of vitamin E and more protection than 1,200 milligrams of vitamin C*. And they taste heavenly with some fresh yogurt and honey!

These antioxidant powerhouses offer extraordinary health and anti-aging benefits. Blueberries have a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, senility, and degenerative eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts. In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who ate 1 cup of blueberries daily significantly increased the level of antioxidants in their blood.

Still not convinced? These little blue jewels also contribute to aging gracefully. They help maintain healthy skin and reduce fine aging lines. And blueberries’ benefits aren’t only cosmetic: there’s evidence that they also reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in animal studies (human clinical studies are still underway*).

Here are some tips on buying and using blueberries:

Selection: Look for plump, firm, indigo-blue berries with a silvery frost and avoid berries that look moldy. Be sure to pick the container up to check for freshness in the berries on the bottom.

Storage: Store in the refrigerator for up to one week and only wash the berries just before you are going to eat them. To freeze the berries, scatter washed and dried berries on a cookie sheet in a single layer and put them in the freezer. Once frozen, they can go into zip-lock bags for storage.

Use:

* Sprinkle berries on yogurt or over oatmeal* Drop berries into whole-wheat pancake dough prior to cooking* Cook berries down to create a blueberry syrup

Snack on frozen berries or use them in smoothies

Try this great recipe:

Zesty Blueberry Popsicle

12 paper or foil baking cups, 2.5 inch sizeZest and juices of 1 small lemon2 cups plain nonfat yogurt? to ½ cup agave nectar to taste1 pint blueberries

12 Popsicle sticks

Line twelve 2.5 inch muffin pan cups with fluted paper baking cups. In a bowl, blend the lemon zest, lemon juice, yogurt, and sugar until smooth. Stir in the blueberries. Divide the mixture among the paper-lined muffin pan cups. Freeze for 1.5 hours or until almost firm: Insert a Popsicle stick in the middle of each pop. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours. For longer storage in the freezer, cover with plastic wrap. To serve, peel off the paper liners from the pops: let stand at room temperature 4 to 6 minutes to soften slightly for easier eating.



About the Author

Founder of Ideal Balance, Monica Shah is a holistic nutrition and life balance expert. She helps busy professionals find simple ways to eat better, exercise and find more balance in their lives. To find out more please visit http://www.idealbalanceinc.com.