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Hooked on Nutrition: A Physician's Journey toward Holistic Health Care

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I would like to tell you a little about myself and how I became interested in nutrition. Professionally, I have been an Ophthalmologist for over 30 years. I have concentrated on cataract and refractive surgery (Lasik). As an ophthalmic surgeon, I tend to be a fix-it person. I have learned, however, that there are a number of conditions of the eye that are not fixable at all, by surgery or any other way. Herpes viral infections of the eye are in this category. Shingles and dry eye are two other examples. The worst was macular degeneration. Here was a condition we knew little about, how it progressed, or how to stop or slow it down. The only thing I could say was "I'm sorry, but you are going blind and we don't know how to stop it."

In the mid 80's, a vitamin pill came out called Eye-Caps. It contained about 8 vitamins supposed to help retinas. I started suggesting to my macular degeneration patients that they start taking it. Over the next 6 to 12 months, I was becoming convinced that these patients either had stabilized or were not deteriorating as fast as those who were not taking the vitamins. Additionally, these same patients taking Eye-Caps, after several months, reported that their dry eye symptoms seemed better. I was hooked. At this point in time, this was merely clinical impression. No scientific studies were available to back this up. Now, the AREDS study has shown that a vitamin mixture of Beta-carotene, Vitamin C and E, Zinc and Copper will reduce the progression of macular degeneration by 25%. Now we have scientific evidence. All the time, my interest in nutrition is growing.

Seven years ago, while thinking I was in rather good health, I found out that I had a serious problem with plaque in my carotid artery, which required surgery. So much for my illusion of good health! It turned out that my cholesterol was high. I was told by my Internist to stop eating eggs and red meat. This I did. One year later, I found to my dismay that my cholesterol was even higher. I learned that dietary cholesterol is not the cause of high blood cholesterol, but high carbohydrate intake is. After lowering my carbohydrate intake and losing 25 pounds, my cholesterol is just fine. I've learned that doctors don't know everything-and that nutrition is key to holistic health care.

Holistic health care using nutrition information and nutritional supplements, from Physician-Nutrition.com