In addition to grapes, whole grains are also a super food that should be incorporated into a healthy diet. Whole grains include wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, quinoa, sorghum, spelt, rye and popcorn – when these foods are eaten in their “whole” form.
The medical evidence is clear. Whole grains reduce risks of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Few foods can offer such diverse benefits. People who eat whole grains regularly have a lower risk of obesity, as measured by their body mass index and waist-to-hip ratios. They also have lower cholesterol levels.
Because of the phytochemicals and antioxidants, people who eat three daily servings of whole grains have been shown to reduce their risk of heart disease by 25-36%, stroke by 37%, Type II diabetes by 21-27%, digestive system cancers by 21-43% and hormone-related cancers by 10-40%.
Sticking to a healthy diet can directly benefit your overall eye health. Better control of diabetes or high blood pressure through diet and exercise can keep conditions such as Diabetic Retinopathy at bay. Diabetes affects blood vessels throughout the body, particularly in the kidneys and the eyes. Diabetic retinopathy is the name we give to diabetes’ adverse effects on the blood vessels in the eye. In the United States, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults.
Risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases over time. An adult who has had diabetes for 15 years or longer stands an 80% chance of experiencing damage to retinal blood vessels.
The retina, the multiple layers of tissue located at the back of the eye, detects visual stimuli and transmits signals to the brain. When diabetes affects the ocular blood vessels, they may develop leaks or contribute to the formation of scar tissue. These problems reduce the retina’s ability to detect and transmit images.
There are two main types of diabetic retinopathy: background (BDR) and proliferative (PDR). Treatment is available for both types. If you’d like to learn more, contact us at 732-774-5566, or come out this weekend for our latest event. We will be at NJ 101.5’s Grapes & Grain Festival, May 31st in Long Branch from 4-8pm at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa.