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So many aspects of health are fundamental to our quality of life, the eyes being especially important for maintaining independence in elderly lifestyle. Macular degeneration is such a prevalent malady now, I’m grateful Dr. Peat has offered guidelines for keeping eyes healthy.
From Dr. Peat’s Aging Eyes article: “The good health practices that can prevent the inflammatory and degenerative diseases can often make it possible for damaged tissues to recover, even in old age.”
“Limiting water intake (or using salt generously) helps to inhibit prolactin secretion. The saturated fats protect against the body’s stored PUFA, and keeping the blood sugar up keeps the stored fats from being mobilized. Aspirin (or indomethacin) is generally protective to the retina, analogously to its protection against sunburn. Adequate vitamin E is extremely important. There are several prescription drugs that protect against serotonin excess, but thyroid and gelatin (or glycine, as in magnesium glycinate) are protective against the serotonin and melatonin toxicities. Copper and magnesium deficiencies predispose to retinal damage. Red light is protective, blue light (or u.v.) is harmful, so wearing orange lenses would be helpful. Progesterone and pregnenolone, by reducing the stress reactions, should be helpful–in the eye diseases of infancy and old age, as they are in the respiratory distress syndromes.”
Copper and magnesium deficiencies predispose to retinal damage.
What are your thoughts on the possibility that copper toxicity is a major problem within todays health issues @Dosing Ant?
I haven’t gotten to practicing good eye care yet, but I guess now is a better time than ever. I was thinking I should get some protective glasses for my computer work. Can anyone recommend, I guess blue blocking glasses?
Hi J.R.K., I don’t have definitive answers but I’ll share what my layman’s research has uncovered so far because a loved one has been treated for macular degeneration beginning five years ago. Since then I’ve bombarded his email with nutrition/PubMed articles, anything I could find. He’s a scientist so has carefully scrutinized and provided his opinion to me.
Dr. Lisa Wiedeman has some wonderful eye health YT videos (carnivore style) and Dr. Chris Knobbe (ancestral based) has dedicated his research to uncovering AMD causes. Each provide insight into their opinions regarding cause. Seed oils seem to be a common denominator.
Specific to your question, copper appears to have important roles within normal body chemistry. Simplistically, it has been suggested that as we age, iron becomes a burden in our system and copper is used to disarm the iron which can lead to copper deficiencies. When that happens our cells no longer have the adequate enzymes to create energy. Having said that, it also seems we each have unique body chemistry that confounds analysis. In my case, direct observation of my loved one’s diet leaves many questions.
He’s healthy 83, no obesity, no diabetes, no pharmaceuticals. For the past 15 years his diet is primarily beans (soaked well cooked, pinto and black), home grown greens, canned seafood (salmon/sardines) and fresh fish, natto, homemade sourdough from home milled grains, black coffee, green tea, olive oil. Occasional chicken and homemade chocolate. What I find most interesting is what he doesn’t eat…no citrus, dairy, eggs, red meat, pork. Never wore sunglasses. His eye sight continues to decline. His attitude is amazing though, full of vitality and good humor, currently writing a book about his lifetime of research with peregrine falcons.
So if a diet of lima beans and raw squid would save his eye sight I’d have pallets on order. I wish I knew the answer. He doesn’t do blood work so I have no labs but healthy indicators like great skin/healing from scratches, no allergies, slight tendency to colitis but managed with dietary restriction of onions and peppers.
Nutrition questions are esoteric until we or our loved ones become frail, so painful to watch people suffer, especially when you know they’re trying. It’s a quest and I wish good health for everyone with whatever choices work for them.
Simplistically, it has been suggested that as we age, iron becomes a burden in our system and copper is used to disarm the iron which can lead to copper deficiencies.
Awhile back Dr Salidino did an interview with Morley Robbins, one of the leading experts on iron, he echoed this observation describing copper as the rate limiting factor on the metabolism of iron.
For the past 15 years his diet is primarily beans (soaked well cooked, pinto and black), home grown greens, canned seafood (salmon/sardines) and fresh fish, natto, homemade sourdough from home milled grains, black coffee, green tea, olive oil. Occasional chicken and homemade chocolate.
The only things that ump out at me on this is the salmon and the sardines, just because of their cold water backgrounds leading to higher PUFA specifically Omega threes, in addition given the levels of pollution seen well everywhere there is a possibility of heavy metals playing a role.
The grains and beans I would question only because I personally do not do well on them, but as you point out I am not him and there in lies the crux, each of us are unique and have our own set of metabolic preferences and I would argue environmental situations which we exist, these all play huge factors that many times are overlooked. But if he does well on them then who would I be to question that. The grains and might be giving him the right levels of folate, and other B vitamins as well as selenium and other minerals, but it is still a diet high in phosphorus so the calcium might be a question.
Given that he is eighty three and quite active with a clearly still sharp mind and no other conditions save the failing eyesight he seems to be doing well. Perhaps there is a vitamin A deficiency at play here, while that statement might now be controversial, there is evidence going both ways on this now contested topic.Very helpful feedback, @J.R.K., thank you so much for taking the time to respond.
I agree about the Omega 3 content/ocean pollution, and wonder if that’s the main contender for the ongoing issues. Another observation I forgot to include is that he eats only one meal a day, lunch, then takes a short nap, so from a metabolic perspective that might add digestive stress.
Thank you for the video link, look forward to listening. I enjoy all discussions and am open to perspectives I have overlooked. How true, our environment, our genetics and so many factors can influence how our body responds to nutrients.
Yes, it’s unfortunate the Vit A discussion has created polarization. In reading Grant’s e-books I’m quite stumped by the WW2 prisoner/eye health discussion. Recognizing YT videos are frequently using facial filters, I observe the sclera of carnivore advocates and notice the whiteness, lack of red irritation which may be just an artifact of the filters. Since the sclera of my loved one’s eyes are deeply veined this suggests to me there is inflammation.
Dr. Peat’s discussion about the optic nerve, the cellular water balance, and osmotic pressure are polar opposite to current thinking, as is often the case with his articles. Somehow all the pieces will come together and eventually we’ll have a better understanding. I’m hopeful we each find the wellness path right for us!
Another observation I forgot to include is that he eats only one meal a day, lunch, then takes a short nap, so from a metabolic perspective that might add digestive stress.
I wonder about this aspect of the protocol. I am familiar with the concept of the intermittent fast, but I am more in the alignment that the one benefit it might provide is the reducing of endotoxin, but in taking into account the hypoglycaemia stressor factor I would have to wonder about the benefits being overtaken by the numerous risks associated with hypoglycaemia.
I have no real issue with the short nap after the meal, but I wonder if it is from the reduction of stress hormones after satisfying the hypoglycaemia. Perhaps the subsequent rise in insulin to quickly to deal with the higher glycemic index of the preferences in carbs ie sourdough bread, but I would also consider the possibility that the diet might be lacking in potassium which does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to blood sugar being taken up by the cell. Considering that from a bioenergetic viewpoint everything is based upon adequate energy provided to the body, and the roles that magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium and selenium play in the interactions and maintaining their ideal roles in intracellular and extra cellular processes and how that relates to health and stress reactions, a review of these minerals might bear some fruits in terms of slowing halting and possibly reversing the macular degeneration.
I’ve found that getting sunlight in my eyes (while closed or from profile) helps immensely, especially earlier in the day. I think glasses and contacts also make the condition worse because they block direct light that your eyes need. I’m trying to be better about controlling the lights my eyes are exposed to. Really in the last 50 years the number of lights in our life have increased immensely. Many people today are not comfortably with dim or evening lighting and want bright lights all the way until bed time.
Hi Cari, just a quick note that the only blue blocking glasses I have used are inexpensive ones from Amazon, but I’m sure there must be higher quality ones that would be better! I hope someone will chime in with suggestions!
Thank you again J.R.K. for the substantive response, it never occurred to me to consider the hypoglycaemia aspect to his napping! Of course, very likely and it’s certainly quite possible the lack of potassium could be affecting his overall energy metabolism. We will do an assessment of the minerals he might be lacking and see if we can improve the balance! Thank you for the ideas!
And thank you kayess for raising the awareness of good light exposure for the eyes. I agree it helps to pay more attention to how much and what kind of light our eyes are getting, especially toward evening. Several months ago I bought some red incandescent night light bulbs and have really enjoyed them in the evening!
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