I've made a personal decision to avoid medication whenever possible. It all started when I was prescribed a benzodiazepine for anxiety. I admit, I didn't do my homework—who reads the fine print, right? At first, it made a difference, but after a year, it stopped working, and by then, I had become dependent on it. I knew I needed to stop and asked my doctor for help. To my surprise, they simply advised me to quit cold turkey. What I wasn’t prepared for was the intense withdrawal that came with it—let’s just say, it felt like it almost ended my life.
As someone who loves being outgoing and social, I was forced to give up everything—activities, socializing—and just focus on healing. I understand that some people may have thought I was being overly dramatic, but if you’ve never gone through such a painful withdrawal, it’s hard to understand. My family and friends did their best to support me, and I am so grateful for them.
Ultimately, though, it was up to me to heal. Thankfully, I did. Today, I’m beyond grateful that I made it through this crisis.
And now, do you see why I’m cautious about medication?
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Better Living Through Science
focus on eye health..
The face of a loved . A colorful sunset. Your favorite sports team creaming the competition. Beaty may be in the eye of the beholder, but there's no question our vision is essential to our quality of life. Not to mention our safety, whether we're driving on a rainy night or scanning the horizon for bears..or zombies.
Protecting the health of our eyes goes far beyond wearing a cool pair of shades outdoors.
So let's focus to the science of eye health.
it's not just about carrots..eat your carotenoids.
Growing up, most of us were told to eat our carrots because they were good for our eyes. it turns out focusing only on beta carotene from carrots may have been shortsighted. According to a recent study in JAMA Ophthalmology, the antioxidant carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin offer better protection for retaining eye health. researchers compiled data from two long-running, large scale studies, estimating carotenoid intakes based on food questionnaires. Those with the highest intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin had better long-term eye health than those with the lowest intakes. But this doesn't mean carrots aren't still important. Similar long-term benefits were seen in those with the highest intakes of other caretenoids, just not in the same extent.
I can see clearly now..
Is there anything we can do to ensure we maintain good vision every day? Not surprisingly, the same nutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin, can also help support good visual performance. A study published in "Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science followed healthy subjects as they supplemented with 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin per day. They saw a significant increase in macular pigment optical density,(MPOD) which, in turn, correlated with the improvements in chromatic contrast and recovery from photostress. In other words, those who have higher levels of MPOD are able to see clearly and recover quickly after a bright light shines in their eyes.
Not a Dry Eye in the house..
A study found that those who supplemented with the antioxidants and essential polyunsaturated fatty acids for three months experienced significant improvements in subjective symptoms of non-severe dry eye. So proper supplementation can keep the tears flowing.. (in a good way of course)
A feast for the eyes..
Egg yolk, spinach, orange, peppers, kiwi, sqaush, sweet potato, salmon, and halibut. Add these foods to your diet to ensure you get plenty of eye-healthy nutrients like carenoids and omega-3s.
What is..
Macula: A small spot near the center of the retina in the back of the eye. Needed for sharp central vision, which lets us see objects that are straight ahead.
Macular Pigment: Internal yellow filter comprised of lutein and zeaxanthin, which selectively accumualtes in the macula. Absorbs blue light.
Chromatic Contrast: Ability to discern objects from their background.
Photostress: Temporary loss of sight caused by short, intense light exposure.
Share the Vision..
Don't forget to tell your friends and family about these studies to help them protect the health of their eyes.
Be in gratitude for your eyesight!
To your health and vision,
Lorene Hochstetler
