Health & Wellness - Steven P. Timmons | Stephen Cohen, O.D. [CITYSunTimes August 2011]

What You Don’t Know Can’t Help You

BlueBerries: Time In A Bottle?

By Steven P. Timmons

As the summer passes along, we see blueberries in abundance in our markets. But blueberries are also beginning to get a lot of attention from the scientific community.
Just this year, a group of scientists at the University of Houston published a study in Nutrition finding that even a short-term (1 month) feeding of a blueberry enriched diet was able to reverse memory loss in aging rats.
Last year, R Krikorian and a group from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati published results of a placebo controlled study where human volunteers with early memory loss (average age of 76 years) were given a blueberry juice concentrate. The aging adults were given 444 to 621 ml of the juice per day, depending on their body weight. The blueberry juice caused improvements in paired associate learning and word list recall, along with trends showing reduced symptoms of depression.
One more little study serves as icing on our blueberry cake: hamsters that were fed a high fat diet, but were also given blueberry peels, showed a reduction in their cholesterol levels and also a decrease in fat absorption. Impressive!
There is little doubt that whether you are a rat or a human, there is a tasty way to help out your memory, and maybe even lower your cholesterol! I have some frozen blueberries in my freezer claiming to hold only 70 calories per cup. I often eat them for a snack while watching the Tour De France on television (French mountainsides go with blueberries –trust me!). The only warning I would give is that you will get some very blue fingers if you choose to eat them like popcorn. Enjoy!

[Read Steve’s full column in our August 2011 print edition.]

Steven P. Timmons is a compounding chemist and consultant for Mountain View Pharmacy. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Stanford University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University.

CST Logo

Community News for Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Northeast Phoenix, Carefree, Cave Creek and surrounding areas.

CITYSunTimes Online Extras & Web Exclusives August 2011 | Read the full SECTION

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Stephen Cohen - Dr. My Eyes Baby Blues…And Browns And Greens

By Stephen Cohen, O.D.

There are few things as wonderful as looking into the clear eyes of a baby and seeing warm recognition in response. While it is easy to see a child’s development in other areas (e.g., walking, talking), we really don’t “see” a child’s eyes develop. Over time, we just recognize that they can respond to visual stimuli, see further and reach for things accurately. Similarly, it is also difficult to notice when vision problems begin. Some changes are very subtle and undetectable to a parent, relative or caregiver. For example, one study found that a child who had vision testing before the age of two-and-a-half was 17 times less likely to develop a previously undetected “lazy eye” by age eight. Other studies have shown that one in 10 children will have undiagnosed vision problems. With about 80 percent of what is learned being through the visual system, assessing the visual system early increases the chances of school success later.
The American Optometric Association and private optometrists around the country have partnered to create InfantSee, a no-cost public health program designed to address the eye care needs for infants nationwide. I have been a volunteer provider since the program began, and it continues to be one of the more enjoyable experiences in my practice. Shortly after this edition of the CST goes to press, I will be happily joining the ranks of grandparenthood, and one year from now, I’ll have the pleasure of bringing the InfantSee program home when I check my grandson’s eyes!
To learn more about the program, as well as about vision development, you can go to InfantSee through the Links page on my website, www.doctormyeyes.net. InfantSee services are free for children up to one year of age. To make an appointment, call our office at 480.513.3937. The eye evaluation is quick, non-invasive (your baby can sit on your lap during testing) and utilizes testing that might not be available to pediatricians and family doctors. It can detect potential problems that can lead to vision and learning issues later in life and give parents peace of mind that their infant’s vision is developing normally.
Vision is considered our most precious sense. Let’s make sure all children get off to the best possible start for a lifetime of wonderful vision.

For more information, visit Dr. Cohen’s www.doctormyeyes.net, call 480.513.3937 or contact him via e-mail at stephen.cohen@doctormyeyes.net.