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Lupins lining the roadsides are common sights for anyone who has visited Atlantic Canada or Maine during the summertime, but have you ever heard of eating lupine seeds?  Even better, have you ever heard about how good lupin flour can be for the heart?

A study out of the University of Western Australia describes how it is possible to lower your risk of heart disease “significantly” by replacing conventional wholemeal flour with a blend that contains 40% lupin beans.  A yearlong study of over 100 overweight men and women showed that increasing one’s intake of “lupin flour lowered blood pressure and reduced the risk of heart disease.”
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Optic Gliomas Respond to Growth Factor Eye Drops

Optic gliomas are rare tumors of the brain targeting one or both optic nerves or location where the two optic nerves cross each other, the optic chiasm.  This condition is not known to get better naturally, although nerve growth factor eye drops could help in milder causes.  So far, the results are limited and more research is needed.

Nerve growth factor is  is a neuropeptide (a small protein-like molecule essential for nerve cell communication) which has the capacity to maintain and regulate the growth and integrity of nerve cells, or neurons.  Administered in the form of eyedrops it has been used in the treatment of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and various optic nerve conditions.
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In light of the recent flooding in the Midwest that has disrupted lives and endangered public health, the American Optometric Association (AOA) has published a list of reminders and precautions related to eye care, particularly for those contact lens wearers out there.  Their particular concerns involve the proliferation of water born pathogens such as amoeba, parasites, bacteria and viruses which can be responsible for eye infections.  Eye doctors have seen an increase in eye infections in areas of flood stricken Iowa.
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Preliminary research shows that a regular yoga practice can help stroke patients recover more effectively.

A study of 20 stroke survivors of an average age of 66 engaged in twice weekly yoga classes for two months.  It was found that the participants balance improved.  Researchers also found that a practice of yoga could help prevent potentially dangerous falls.

On the whole, balance scores increased by 17% on the Berg Balance Scale and by 34% on the Fullerton Balance Scale.  It is important to not that the average score was upped from 40 to 47 on the Berg Balance Scale, which means that the individuals were no longer on the “high risk” list when it comes to falls.
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Omega-3 fatty acids are known to help the heart and they have also been found to help defend against eye diseases like macular degeneration.

A study by researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine shows that omega-3 fatty acids could also help people struggling with alcohol addiction or psychiatric disorders.  According to scientists, the DHA in the fatty acid was responsible for “normalizing behavior” in mice.  When taking DHA, mice were less likely to become depressed or manic when placed under stress.  Unexpectedly, the mice also lost their taste for alcohol when consuming DHA supplements.
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US government scientists realize the important role that nutrition plays in the health of the eyes.

Cataracts are caused by an accumulation of free radicals that cloud the lens of the eye through a process called oxidation.  Antioxidants, these researchers agree, “are compounds in foods that help maintain healthy cells and tissues in the eye and other organs.”  Prime sources of antioxidants include: leafy greens, eggs, blueberries, and bilberries.

In a study of almost 500 middle aged and older women, it was discovered that those who consumed more riboflavin, folate, beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins C and E were less likely to suffer from cataract symptoms than did those who consumes the least amounts of these nutrients.
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