I had a troubled phone call just before the above was featured on TV.  We should all take note.

Q:  Bea Dekker:  Tessa, my optician has told me he thinks I have early stage macular degeneration.  He told me to see an eye specialist as soon as possible.  How will I manage to keep living in my own place if I am nearly blind?  Isn't polio enough? What can I do?

A:  Tessa:  Bea, it is important to get an appointment as soon as you can.
 

Macula Degeneration means damage to the central part of the retina at the back of the eye where we focus to see clearly.  The damage creates a black empty space in the middle of our vision.  I am looking it up on our HyperHealth CD ROM 2004 now. I suggest that until you get to see your eye specialist you take a few extra supplements.

In particularly I would suggest taurine to help break down the fatty deposits and we know taurine is needed for a healthy retina anyway.  Take cod liver oil to get Vit A and the essential fatty acids needed for the rods and cones (the nerve part of the retina that records sight), B2 to help the blood capillaries of the eye that become clogged supplying the rods and cones, also E and C to deal with fat and oxidation damage, zinc to repair cell damage, lipoic acid because it can penetrate the eye tissue and protect the retina from further damage, glutamine and selenium to make glutathione (a powerful detoxifier) and magnesium, (which you are already on), is essential for the optimal function of the retina.

And would you believe Bea, that it also says here that carnitine is useful for the prevention of Glaucoma because it inhibits the cross-linking damage that occurs to the Optic Nerve in Glaucoma patients.  And you thought you were just taking carnitine for your muscles!  It also says that glucosamine helps to reduce intra-ocular pressure in Glaucoma patients by maintaining the collagen structure of the fluid drain.  So that is not just for joint problems either.

And make some changes to your diet.  You need to especially avoid all processed plant oils.  This means NO MARGARINES.  Go back to using butter.  It is much better for you.  Cold pressed olive oil is the only one that is OK.  Don't use any of the others like canola, sunflower, peanut etc.  If you need to fry or roast you are better using butter or even just water to moisten the pan.  If you must - use olive oil and only once then discard.  Even the old fashioned dripping and lard are better than plant oils.  The body is equip-ped to deal with these but not the new processed plant oils.  It is said they are only one step short of turning into plastic.  So check the labels on everything you buy for hidden vegetable oils.  And by the way - Don't use a microwave either.  It changes the molecular structure, particularly of the proteins.  Dogs and cats won't eat microwaved food - they're telling us

Eat more of the foods that provide the antioxidants needed for eyes ie brightly coloured red, yellow, purple and green vegetables and fruit.
 

This grid is what we see with normal vision. To view do not remove glasses or contacts if normally worn for reading. Hold about 35cm away in good lighting. Cover each eye in turn concentrating on middle dot with uncovered eye.

If you see wavy, broken or distorted lines, blurred or missing areas of vision                                      as in the grid opposite, you should see your eye specialist immediately.   There are new treatments now available.

Bea Dekker: Thank you Tessa. I have now seen the eye specialist.  I showed him everything you had sent me and told me to take.  He concurred with all you had told me to do and said to continue with it.  I am noticing improvement already.