BLUEBERRY LUQAIMAT ….. A Natural Therapy for Seniors´ Retina
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Elhashemy
February 21, 2009
Scientists of University of Liverpool claim that the degeneration of retinal macula caused by aging could be reduced by up to 20% by increasing the amount of fruit, vegetables and nuts in the diet.
I think to be more scientific and more effective, we should not only include any fruit in seniors´ diet, but we have to specify the type of fruit and the frequency of its intake.
In 2005, I developed the very successful Luqaimat diet plan. In 2007, I modified it to include 21 factors. I named it Elhashemy's Broad Spectrum Luqaimat Diet Plan which is a comprehensive strategy that employs specific food types of low-volume meals (Luqaimat in Arabic language). These meals are intended to be taken frequently, inducing different biological and psychological responses, with the purpose of obtaining ideal body weight and maintaining it for life. The plan is named Broad Spectrum because it consists of several factors.
I promised my American Chronicle readers to publish my diet book on Luqaimat by end of 2008.
Unfortunately, I got massive retinal detachment of right eye on August 15th, 2008. My medical condition forced me to delay my book for year 2009, but in the same time it led me to discover a very significant scientific observation, which is eating blueberries separately several times daily, leads to retinal regeneration.
As I discussed in a previous article, "Elhashemy's Broad Spectrum Luqaimat Diet Plan ….. 4. The Super-food Slimming Factor" on February 29, 2008, berries are potent antioxidant, and as we know that blueberries are the most potent of them.
Blueberries are high in the soluble fiber pectin. Also, jam contains high concentration of pectin. Pectin helps preventing constipation, an important factor in preventing retinal re-detachment. Accordingly, I took very frequent &small doses of blueberry jam half tablespoonful every 1-2 hours for 7 successive times daily). I took the blueberry separately so that to get the maximum intestinal absorption, hence the highest antioxidant concentration in the blood, aiming to get the maximum effect on the retinal epithelium.
After few weeks of worrying, awaiting for the response of what I did, I noticed that my vision improved significantly and my eye surgeon was greatly astonished from finding the damaged macula & the tears in the retina healed perfectly.
I think that this marked visual improvement is due to two facts:
1. The intake of blueberries was divided into frequent small doses (Luqaimat size), so we get the steady high blood level of antioxidant.
2. This steady high blood level of antioxidant soaked the retina, hence creating a persistent regenerating effect.
Recently, it has been settled that to gain maximum benefits from blueberries and other fruits eaten for their polyphenol content is to consume them either one hour before protein is consumed, or two hours after.
Proteins, especially milk may destroy polyphenols greatly. Researchers at Tufts University recently (in 2009) analyzed 60 fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant powers. Blueberries were tops among all that were studied, ranking highest in the capacity to destroy free radicals.
Blueberries contain Phenolics which are the active compounds in plants that give blueberries their antioxidant potential. Generous quantities of anthocyanins & pterostilbene, which are very potent natural antioxidants that mops up free radicals that may be the cause for age-related macular degeneration AMD (one of the most common causes of blindness in the elderly).
I advise specialized researchers at ophthalmic centers to study the effect of frequent intake of Luqaimat blueberry jam as a natural therapy for protecting seniors´ vision.
I think to be more scientific and more effective, we should not only include any fruit in seniors´ diet, but we have to specify the type of fruit and the frequency of its intake.
In 2005, I developed the very successful Luqaimat diet plan. In 2007, I modified it to include 21 factors. I named it Elhashemy's Broad Spectrum Luqaimat Diet Plan which is a comprehensive strategy that employs specific food types of low-volume meals (Luqaimat in Arabic language). These meals are intended to be taken frequently, inducing different biological and psychological responses, with the purpose of obtaining ideal body weight and maintaining it for life. The plan is named Broad Spectrum because it consists of several factors.
I promised my American Chronicle readers to publish my diet book on Luqaimat by end of 2008.
Unfortunately, I got massive retinal detachment of right eye on August 15th, 2008. My medical condition forced me to delay my book for year 2009, but in the same time it led me to discover a very significant scientific observation, which is eating blueberries separately several times daily, leads to retinal regeneration.
As I discussed in a previous article, "Elhashemy's Broad Spectrum Luqaimat Diet Plan ….. 4. The Super-food Slimming Factor" on February 29, 2008, berries are potent antioxidant, and as we know that blueberries are the most potent of them.
Blueberries are high in the soluble fiber pectin. Also, jam contains high concentration of pectin. Pectin helps preventing constipation, an important factor in preventing retinal re-detachment. Accordingly, I took very frequent &small doses of blueberry jam half tablespoonful every 1-2 hours for 7 successive times daily). I took the blueberry separately so that to get the maximum intestinal absorption, hence the highest antioxidant concentration in the blood, aiming to get the maximum effect on the retinal epithelium.
After few weeks of worrying, awaiting for the response of what I did, I noticed that my vision improved significantly and my eye surgeon was greatly astonished from finding the damaged macula & the tears in the retina healed perfectly.
I think that this marked visual improvement is due to two facts:
1. The intake of blueberries was divided into frequent small doses (Luqaimat size), so we get the steady high blood level of antioxidant.
2. This steady high blood level of antioxidant soaked the retina, hence creating a persistent regenerating effect.
Recently, it has been settled that to gain maximum benefits from blueberries and other fruits eaten for their polyphenol content is to consume them either one hour before protein is consumed, or two hours after.
Proteins, especially milk may destroy polyphenols greatly. Researchers at Tufts University recently (in 2009) analyzed 60 fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant powers. Blueberries were tops among all that were studied, ranking highest in the capacity to destroy free radicals.
Blueberries contain Phenolics which are the active compounds in plants that give blueberries their antioxidant potential. Generous quantities of anthocyanins & pterostilbene, which are very potent natural antioxidants that mops up free radicals that may be the cause for age-related macular degeneration AMD (one of the most common causes of blindness in the elderly).
I advise specialized researchers at ophthalmic centers to study the effect of frequent intake of Luqaimat blueberry jam as a natural therapy for protecting seniors´ vision.
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