With a few easy
tweaks, meals can
be made much
more healthy.
LIVING HEALTHY IN THE NEW YEAR
Choose sodium-free seasonings.
The USCA recommends limiting
sodium to less than 1 teaspoon
of salt per day. Try options like fresh
herbs or lemon juice to add some sodium
free fl avor.
Increase fi ber content. Fiber
helps one feel fuller longer and can
also be helpful for digestion and
heart health. Choose the “brown” varieties
of rice, pasta, and breads.
Replace meat with leaner forms
of protein. Lean chicken, turkey,
and pork can replace red meats in
many recipes. Some traditional meat
dishes, such as burgers, also can be
modifi ed using vegetables or seafood.
Lean meats dry out quickly, so
keep foods moist by watching cooking
times.
Stock up on yogurt. Greek and
other varieties of yogurt can replace
sour cream and mayonnaise in many
dishes.
Resolving to eat healthier can be
easy by making some simple swaps
when preparing your favorite foods.
ADVERTO R I A L BRIGHTON EYE
FAVORITE FOODS
Continued from page 23
more carbohydrates. In addition, less
powerful sunshine in winter coupled
with people bundling up translates
into less vitamin D being absorbed
by the body. Some researchers believe
there is a link between vitamin
D defi ciency and weight gain as well.
To ensure that certain foods do
not sabotage healthy eating plans,
people can employ some easy modifi -
cations and make healthier versions
of the foods they like to eat:
Choose crunchy foods. Those
who are prone to snacking can
reach for noisy foods. These include
crunchy items like apples, carrots,
and pretzels. Scientists say that
when people listen to what they are
chewing — called the “crunch effect”
— they eat less of that item.
Tone down the cream. Delicious
dishes like fettuccine alfredo typically
are made with lots of butter and
cream. Replace cream sauces with a
healthier base made of low-fat milk
thickened with fl our. Increase the fl avor
with favorite spices.
Fry with care. Use healthy oils
like olive or coconut sparingly. Many
foods that are traditionally fried also
can be lightly coated with cooking
spray and baked for a crunchy texture.
JANUARY IS GLAUCOMA AWARENESS MONTH
Make an Appointment for an Annual Eye Exam Millie R. Fell, MD
The New Year is the time to take
stock of your health. Start with your
eyes. January is “Glaucoma Awareness
Month”. It’s the perfect time to
make an appointment with your eye
doctor for your annual eye exam.
Glaucoma is a silent disease;
there are no symptoms, no pain. The
only pain a patient feels is the pain
of irreversible loss of vision. Unfortunately
by the time vision loss occurs,
the damage is irreversible. A
visit to your eye doctor is essential
to detect if you have any risk factors
and clinical signs of glaucoma.
Another eye disease that can
be aided by early detection which
is the leading cause of blindness
in the United States is Age-related
Macular Degeneration. In the Agerelated
Degeneration Study, known
as AREDS, it was shown that vitamins
containing zinc, Vitamins A, C
and E help to slow down the progression
of macular degeneration.
In the second phase of this study
known as AREDS 2, fi sh oil (omega
3 fatty acids), lutein and zeaxanthin,
have been added to the trial’s
vitamins. Dr. Fell is a specialist in
the treatment of medical diseases
of the retina. She treats patients
with wet macular degeneration with
multiple and different injections
known to stop the progression of
this disease.
Patients often ask what they can
do to prevent eye disease. Eating
healthy foods, exercising regularly,
not indulging in cigarette smoking
and visiting your doctors regularly is
the best way to start. Early detection
of any disease and prevention
of disease is often the best way to
stay healthy. Taking fi sh oils, specifi -
cally omega-3 fatty acids in a triglyceride
form has been shown to reduce
heart disease, atherosclerotic
disease and cholesterol levels. They
have also been shown to improve
joint function, hair and skin. They
have been shown to help decrease
the incidence of dry eyes and improve
blepharitis, a chronic condition
Clinical Assistant Professor
of Ophthalmology, NYU
in which there is constant eyelid
crusting and infl ammation. They are
also thought to help slow the progression
of macular degeneration.
Brighton Eye is a state-of-theart
eye care facility complete with
the latest diagnostic and therapeutic
equipment. Most insurance
plans are accepted. Just check with
the professional, friendly staff when
you call for an appointment.
Dr. Fell is a Board-Certifi ed Ophthalmologist,
working in Brooklyn
for over 27 years and committed to
the total well-being of her patients.
She is fellowship trained in medical
diseases of the retina and is also an
expert cataract surgeon.
Dr. Fell and the staff of Brighton Eye wish all a healthy and peaceful New Year.
Visit our state-of-the-art facility located at 2025 Kings Hwy718-339-6868www.brightoneye.com
Caribbean Life, Jan. 11–17, 2019 29
Most insurances accepted
TAKING CARE OF BROOKLYN’S EYES FOR OVER 27 YEARS