Forget Carrots, Try Omega 3's for your Eyes

Omega-3 essential fatty acids are linked to healthier eyes.
From Phytomedicine 15(8):595-601, 2008

An increased consumption of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) found in fish reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by about 70%, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“This is the first study in Europeans to show a beneficial association on wet AMD from the consumption of oily fish and is consistent with results from studies in the USA and Australia,” said lead researcher Astrid Fletcher, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Indeed, only recently a meta-analysis by Australian scientists reported that a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids and fish may reduce the risk of AMD by up to 38% (Archives of Ophthalmology 126:826-833, 2008).

AMD is a degenerative retinal disease that causes central vision loss and leaves only peripheral vision. Early detection is cited as a means of prevention so that treatment or rehabilitation can be undertaken early enough. However, links to diet have also been underscored. There are two types of AMD, wet and dry. Of the two, wet AMD is the main cause of vision loss.
And since omega-3 fatty acids, and particularly DHA, play an important role in the layer of nerve cells in the retina, studies have already reported that omega-3 may protect against the onset of AMD.

Fletcher and co-workers recruited 105 people (65 years old) with wet AMD and 2,170 healthy people to act as controls, and compared their dietary habits using questionnaires.

Habitual consumption of at least one serving of oily fish per week was associated with a 50% reduction in the risk of developing wet AMD, said the researchers, compared to people who consumed less than one portion per week. Moreover, people who consumed at least 300 mg per day of DHA and EPA were 68% and 71% less likely to have wet AMD, than those with lower consumption.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

NYC C-Section Rates on the Rise

A recent study was published showing that New York City based hospitals ceaseran section rates are on the rise. The local Park Slope Parents community discussion board was buzzing with questions and concerns about the report. Rebecca Benghiat, Executive Director of New Space for Women's Health answered cleared the air in her reponse post which she gave me permission to reprint.

I wanted to reprint it because I have met too many women who assume that thier doctor or hospital are familiar with natural births and that they support natural birth. Unfortunetly, this is a misconception proven by the skyrocketing c-section rates in our local hospitals. There are links to the full report at the end of the letter.

There are times when c-sections are medically necessary. After three days of labor without progressing past 4 cm of dialation, mine was. But I find it hard to believe that the numbers of women reflected in the report really needed this major surgery.

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to respond, since we (New Space for Women's Health) were the non-profit that jointly released the 2006 NYC c-section data along with Choices in Childbirth. Choices in Childbirth worked tirelessly to obtain the hospital by hospital data from NY State - it was not easy to get, and they have done a huge service to our community by adding to the pool of information available to women and families.

Hospital rates are relevant for a few reasons. First, absolutely - your choice of provider is crucial in your care, but all hospital based providers have to work within hospital dictated protocols. These protocols vary in their support of vaginal birth (for instance, the option for intermittent monitoring, offering other pain relief other than epidural, etc). The doctors, midwives, and nurses must follow hospital protocols, and the hospital-wide rates are a sort of "temperature read" of how they compare to the WHO recommended rate of 10-15%. That rate, by the way, was calculated by determining the nexus of best outcomes for moms and babies. Fewer c-sections, or more, and infant and maternal mortality rates increase. The hospital with the lowest rates in NYC (~17%) is North Central Bronx, a public hospital with a midwifery run floor and a number of protocols in place that have been shown to reduce c-sections.

The rates also help us see trends in our area's maternity care and to begin a discussion with hospitals about what they are doing to address the changes in rates. For example, a number of hospitals in Westchester, where rates are 50+%, are increasing their number of recovery and postpartum rooms to handle the longer stays required. We should ask: how should hospitals address their care trends? Should they increase beds or act preventatively to adjust protocols, etc.

A final note on the NYC data - the increases were across the board - the numbers were not driven by the mother's age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or other demographic - another reason to look at the institutions providing maternity care.

Of course, when medically necessary, c-sections are absolutely a life saving procedure. But, they are surgical procedures with their own risks. Consider this like you would any other consumer data - car evaluations, a/c rating, etc - it all is part of the calculation of making an informed choice!

The full c-section press release is available here: http://vcr.csrwire.com/node/9704

The hospital by hospital intervention rates are here: http://www.choicesinchildbirth.org/nyshlis/year.htm?year=2006

Finally, The Birth Survey has ratings for providers and facilities - you can use it as a resource or take the survey if you've had a baby in the last 3 years: http://www.thebirthsurvey.com/the survey is for NYC now, and will be going national in the fall.


Rebecca Benghiat, Executive Director New Space for Women's Health http://www.newspacenyc.org/

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac., Founder Aiyana Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs

Gardasil vaccine blamed for serious side-effects

An article in the LA Times revealed that, "...an analysis released June 30 by the Washington, D.C.-based public interest group Judicial Watch raised some red flags. Judicial Watch obtained records from the FDA's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a voluntary system used by doctors, patients and drug companies to report side effects with vaccines to the federal agency. The report revealed that since the vaccine's 2006 approval, when girls began getting it, nearly 9,000 had bad health events after receiving Gardasil. The incidents included 10 miscarriages, 78 severe outbreaks of genital warts and six cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can result in paralysis. There were also 18 reported deaths".


Here is a video on the subject from CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2008/08/11/boudreau.gardasil.vaccine.cnn


Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Lawmakers Agree to Ban Toxic Toys

Well, they are not really banning all toxic toys but they are banning at least three types of phthalates found in plastic toys.

I say, It is about time!!!

According to the Washington Post's article on July 29, 2008:
"Congressional negotiators agreed yesterday to a ban on a family of toxins found in children's products, handing a major victory to parents and health experts who have been clamoring for the government to remove harmful chemicals from toys.

The ban, which would take effect in six months, would have significant implications for U.S. consumers, whose homes are filled with hundreds of plastic products designed for children that may be causing dangerous health effects.

The rare action by Congress reflects a growing body of scientific research showing that children ingest the toxins by acts as simple as chewing on a rubber duck. Used for decades in plastic production, the chemicals are now thought to act as hormones and cause reproductive problems, especially in boys.

It also signals an important crack in the chemical industry's ability to fend off federal regulation and suggests that the landscape may be shifting to favor consumers. The movement to ban the toxins accelerated last year when California prohibited their use in children's products".

Read the rest of the article here.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Great foods you aren't eating

The New York Times.com health section ran a report called

"The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating".

Check it out to see what superbly healthy foods are missing from your 'fridge and pantry.

BTW- they mention two of amazinghealing's favorite foods, the Gou Qi berry and Cinnamon.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.