Month: March 2019

A condition called ‘Dry Eyes’

[Today’s post is about an eye condition called Dry Eyes.

Recently I was talking to a work colleague about this condition. It is a condition that I have also experienced.

For me it presented as really watery eyes in the morning, so much so that it looked like I was crying. When I spoke to the Optometrist I thought it really weird that the condition was called “Dry Eyes” because they were far from dry.

At the time I did a little research to learn more about the condition. It wasn’t until recently that I thought that others would also be interested in what I learned.

So, as most of us are aware, the tears provide moisture and lubrication to help you see and to keep the eyes comfortable.

What’s in a tear?

Tears are a mix of water, oils, mucus and 1500 different special proteins and antibodies that protect the eyes and keep infection at bay. All these ingredients come from special glands around the eye.

So, what is the condition ‘Dry Eyes’?

The condition ‘Dry eyes’ occurs when your tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Tears can be inadequate for many reasons.

What Causes it?

Sometimes, there’s a lack of balance in your tear-flow system. Items such as your air conditioner, heater, or other things around you could dry out your tear film. Other common causes include:

  • Certain medical conditions that affect your ability to make tears, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders and vitamin A deficiency
  • Side effects of certain medications including antihistamines and decongestants.
  • The natural ageing process, especially menopause
  • Laser eye surgery, though symptoms of dry eyes related to this procedure are usually temporary
  • Tear gland damage from inflammation
  • Or increased tear evaporation, which may be caused by; Wind, smoke or dry air, Blinking less often, for example, while reading, driving or watching a screen, or an imbalance in tear composition
There are several different symptoms.

For some it creates a scratchy sensation or the feeling that something is in the eye.

Sometimes, dry eyes create too many tears. This confusing condition is called reflex tearing. It happens because the lack of moisture irritates your eye. It sends a distress signal through your nervous system for more lubrication. Your body sends a flood of tears to try to make up for the dryness.

Other symptoms include stinging or burning, discharge, pain, and redness in the eye. People with dry eye may also feel as if their eyelids are heavy and may experience blurred vision.   

 How Are Dry Eyes Treated?

There are a number of options. Mild dry eye symptoms may be treated with over-the-counter medications such as artificial tears, gels, and ointments. Many types of drops are available over the counter. No one product works for everyone, so you might have to try a few to figure out the one that’s right for you.

There are also environmental and lifestyle changes you can make. Changes like reducing screen time and taking periodic eye breaks may help. Closing the eyes for a few minutes, or blinking repeatedly for a few seconds, may help to replenish tears and spread them more evenly across the eyes.

(Sources  – www.nei.nih.gov, www.webmd.com, www.mayoclinic.org)

I hope that you also found this information helpful. If you find you have ‘dry eye’ symptoms, it’s best to ask your eye care professional what to do. My own condition improved after just a couple of weeks using an over-the-counter eye drops.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

A look at Green Tea

Today’s post is about Green Tea, Matcha and it’s health benefits. 

A family member recently asked me what the difference was between Matcha green tea and other green teas. Apart from knowing that Matcha is a finely ground tea, I was not aware of any other differences. After some research, this is what I have found out.

So first, what is ‘green tea’?

According to Wikipedia, Green tea is a type of tea that is made from Camellia sinensis, which is native to China. It is green because the leaves and buds have not undergone the same withering and oxidation process used to make oolong teas and black teas. Several varieties of green tea exist, which differ substantially based on the variety of Camellia sinensis and any other ingredients that may be added.

What is ‘Matcha’?

Matcha is the type of tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It is traditionally prepared by whisking the tea with hot water in a bowl, until the surface is frothy.

All green teas come from the same breed of plant. However, to create matcha the plants are treated differently. The tea bushes are actually shielded from sunlight for about 20–30 days before harvest. The shade triggers an increase in chlorophyll levels, which turns the leaves a darker shade of green and increases the production of amino acids. After harvesting, the stems and veins are removed from the leaves. They are then stone-ground into the fine, bright green powder known as matcha.

Is green tea healthier?

Whole-leaf green tea is not processed very much before it’s ingested. Therefore green teas contain the highest concentration of beneficial phytonutrients and the least caffeine of all the teas. Since matcha is simply a variety of green tea, it has most of the same health benefits. However, because the whole leaf powder is ingested, it’s stronger than regular green tea. 

The matcha also has higher levels of caffeine and antioxidants than regular green tea. Green tea’s biggest benefit is the abundance of catechin content. Catechins are a group of polyphenols with high antioxidant power. Dietary antioxidants counteract free radicals in your body, protecting cells and tissues from damage.

How does it improve our health?

Drinking green tea has been shown to improve blood flow and lower cholesterol. A 2013 review of many studies found that this type of tea helped prevent a range of heart-related issues, from high blood pressure to congestive heart failure.

Green tea also contains a unique amino acid called L-theanine. L-theanine can increase the number of feel-good chemicals in your brain, leading to improved mood, memory, and concentration. It also modifies the effects of caffeine in your body, increasing alertness without causing the drowsiness that often follows coffee consumption.

Green tea has often been associated with weight loss. However, a recent review concluded that the weight loss effects of the tea are so small that they are not of any clinical importance.

Next time you think of having a quiet cuppa, give green tea a try to get the best from your tea break:

  • Don’t add boiling water to green tea. It’s bad for all those healthy chemicals in the tea.
  • Add lemon. Vitamin C makes the catechins easier to absorb.
  • Don’t add dairy, it makes it harder for the body to absorb the catechins.
  • Nutrient levels in green tea can vary. Pricier teas usually have more.
  • Canned green-tea drinks generally have more additives and fewer nutrients.

relax and enjoy.                                                  (Sources http://whfoods.org, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, www.webmd.com)   Till the next post,   

Live clean n Prosper 

All about Iodine

Todays post is all about Iodine as requested by a friend.

This subject is also of particular interest to me as I do have a thyroid disorder. So getting my daily source of Iodine is quite important.

 First of all, what is Iodine?

According to Wikipedia, Iodine is a chemical element first discovered by the French chemist Bernard Courtois in 1811.

It is a naturally occurring chemical element, like oxygen and iron. It is the heaviest of the essential mineral nutrients and it is also the least abundant.

It is present in fairly constant amounts in seawater, but its distribution over land and fresh water is uneven. In continents such as Australia and New Zealand, natural iodine levels are very low in the soils where we grow our vegetables, grains and graze livestock.

 Why is it essential?

Iodine is an essential element for life. It is required for the synthesis of the growth-regulating thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine (T4 and T3 respectively). Thyroid hormones are required for normal growth and development of tissues and maturation of our bodies.

Globally, it is estimated that 2 billion individuals have an insufficient iodine intake. In industrialised countries, including the United States, Australia and New Zealand much of the food supply is now low in iodine. This has led to widespread deficiency.

Iodine deficiency has multiple adverse effects in humans. It is  the commonest worldwide cause of thyroid disorders.  A low iodine diet can cause hypothyroidism, an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre) and can affect fertility, pregnancy and neuro-developmental disorders in newborns. It is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disabilities.

How to get your daily intake

Some of the best sources of iodine include seafood, iodised salt and bread. The iodine content of plants and vegetables is dependent on the environment and soil in which they are grown.

Marine sources –

Seaweed, fish and shellfish are the best sources.

Seaweed is an excellent source of iodine. However, the amount can vary significantly based on seaweed type, the region in which it grew and its preparation.

Three popular seaweed varieties include kombu kelp, wakame and nori. Kombu kelp offers the highest amount of iodine.

Higher amounts of iodine are found in fish low in fat compared to fatty fish. For instance, a lean fish like cod can provide up to 66% of the daily value. Tuna offers less iodine than lean fish but is still a relatively good source.

Shrimp and other shellfish are good sources  because they absorb some of the iodine that is naturally present in seawater.

Two to three servings of seafood a week should provide sufficient iodine to meet the requirements of most people.

Salt –

In Australia, any salt used at home should be iodised salt (that is, salt to which iodine has been added).

Bread –

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) implemented a mandatory iodine fortification regulation in October 2009. Since then, Australian bakers are required to replace regular salt with iodised salt in the baking of bread. This regulation does not include organic bread and breads made from non-wheat flour.

Eggs –

Egg yolks are a good source of because it is added to chicken feed. On average, one large egg contains 24 mcg of iodine, or 16% of the daily value.

and lastly prunes –

Interestingly, prunes are a good source of iodine. Five dried prunes provide 13 mcg, or about 9% of the daily value.

I hope that you have also found this information interesting and that it will help you to improve your Iodine intake.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper.

Sources – https://academic.oup.com, www.sciencedirect.com, http://www.foodstandards.gov.au, http://www.nutritionaustralia.org, www.thyroidfoundation.org.au