August 10th 2009 I visited an Opthomologist. I was diagnosed with diabetes around 20 years ago, precluded by the diagnoses of hypoglycemia in 1976. As you may have already read I also have lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditus and hereditary hemochromatosis. All of these maladies can damage the eye.
For most of my life I have focused on natural health. I have researched, experimented, read books and watched health gurus. After many years I settled into a vegetarian diet. It hasn’t always been easy but it was my centered goal. My favorite chef was Kathy Hoshijo of “Kathy’s Kitchen”. She has written books on natural diet filled with tasty Hawaiian Asian cuisine.
Herbs are my preferred treatment and I can honestly say I am much the healthier for it. I have tried the doctors medicines and am thankful for modern medicine when my body refuses to heal naturally. However, I have been over-medicated way more than under. With all of my problems, genetic in nature that they are (mutated DNA), I am only taking thyroid medicine and naprosen (Aleve).
My visit to the Opthomologist was way overdue. Anyone with these medical conditions needs to be checked in order to make certain you are not undergoing damage that is irreparable. The eye tells a lot. It is sensitive nerve tissue. I have been having some problems with spots and a glaze over my eye.
Upon my exam she told me my eyes were dry but showed no damage, nothing that someone with my medical history should have! The spots are naturally occurring floaters. She went over my abnormal blood test results with me (best doctor I have EVER been to). She also told me I needed more aggressive thyroid treatment therapy and told me to go see a particular female Doctor in town.
The most fulfilling thing she told me was that even though I am overweight due to bulimia and my thyroid being too low, my diet IS THE REASON I am doing so well and my eyes are so healthy! I have recently fallen off the raw vegan wagon and my glucose levels started to go up, even more the reason to “GO VEGAN.”
There are many reasons both humane and health why eating animal products is not a good choice. You don’t have to be a wacko or get naked for a Peta campaign to care about factory farmed suffering animals.
Now my disclaimer: I have been critized because on rare occasion I will eat when I feel the need to, sustainably caught wild sockeye salmon. There is only one company I buy from, “Vital Choice” that I have been told is salmon from Native Americans on Native American lands.
Eating a vegan diet does not mean you check your brains at the fridge and become a card carrying member of Peta. It also does not mean you just joined a religious cult. It means different things to different people.
Evidence exists that milk thistle may be hepatoprotective through a number of mechanisms: antioxidant activity, toxin blockade at the membrane level, enhanced protein synthesis, antifibriotic activity, and possible anti-inflammatory or immunomodulating effects.