Dear Healthy Friend,

It's been called the fountain of youth for its anti-ageing powers - but resveratrol could do so much more than help you beat the calendar.

It could even save your eyes.

Keep reading to see what Dr Martin has to say....

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. Dr Wright gives us a tip on how to put insomnia to sleep for a good night's rest...

Keeping an eye on resveratrol
Dr Martin
Editor, House Calls

Researchers say resveratrol appears to stop and even reverse the growth of the harmful blood vessels that lead to eye disorders - such as age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in seniors... And diabetic retinopathy, which leads to vision loss in some 20% of diabetics and is the top cause of new blindness amongst middle-aged people.

This process is called angiogenesis. When researchers gave resveratrol to a group of mice with the condition, the abnormal blood vessels practically vanished. The researchers believe this could work on humans just as well, according to the study in the American Journal of Pathology.

The research is early, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the benefits of resveratrol today because this remarkable antioxidant may also help reverse the signs of ageing, prevent obesity and even help you live longer.

The only problem with resveratrol is getting it... Despite what you may have heard, it's not as easy as simply picking out your favourite red wine or serving a pitcher of sangria with dinner. That's because while the typical glass of red wine has roughly 60mg of antioxidants, it contains just 1mg of resveratrol.

That's it.

If you really want to unlock the powers of resveratrol, turn to a quality supplement, which can contain 100mg or more.

I'm all for healthy moderate drinking - but you'd die of alcohol poisoning if you tried to get that much resveratrol from your wine!

And if you want to lower your risk of eye diseases such as macular degeneration, be sure to enjoy your share of fatty fish - or at least take a good fish oil supplement. Several studies have found that the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil could reduce your risk of both wet and dry AMD by between a third and 40%.

Since your retina is loaded with the same docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, found in fish oil, that shouldn't surprise anyone.

Other great nutrients that could help lower your risk of eye diseases include vitamins C and E, copper, zinc, beta-carotene and the phytonutrients lutein and zeaxanthin.

Then, be sure you enjoy that glass of wine just the same - resveratrol or not, it's still good for you.

Have you ever seen a seasick pig?

Of course not. Two reasons: 1) Pigs rarely go boating, and 2) Histamine.

Your body produces histamine when you experience sensory conflict - such as the rolling motion of a boat. And among other responses, histamine stimulates gastric acid secretion. Which is why you eventually go running for the railing.

Pigs get a break here. They happen to produce large amounts of an enzyme that degrades histamine.

But there is something you could do to give yourself a pig-like advantage.

Experienced sailors know they can help prevent seasickness with plenty of vitamin C. This was recently confirmed in an Austrian study that showed a histamine spike in people who were seasick. But one or two grams of vitamin C disrupted histamine production and curbed seasickness.

This tip might also be useful to moviegoers who attend 3D movies. During the recent theatrical run of Avatar, there were many reports of nausea - especially in IMAX theatres where the enormous images are sometimes overwhelming.

Production of histamine could also be suppressed by avoiding alcohol and chocolate. Histamine is degraded during sleep, so a good night's rest can help too.

Reset your body's sleep clock

Q: No matter what I do, I just can't sleep. I'm sick of the insomnia, but I really don't want to take a prescription sleeping pill. I've tried melatonin, but it doesn't seem to work for me. Should I try taking more?

Dr. Wright: Melatonin doesn't work for everyone. There are a significant number of people whose sleep difficulties are not at all helped by taking melatonin. But don't give up before you try two things. First, try opening the melatonin capsule and placing the contents under your tongue. For some, this works even when swallowing the capsule whole doesn't.

If that doesn't work, you may need to adjust your dose. Determining the best dosage of melatonin is really based on how your body responds to it. If you're having difficulty sleeping, the best dosage for you is the smallest amount needed to provide that improvement in your sleep, which may mean taking more than indicated on the bottle. However, it's always best to consult with a physician skilled and knowledgeable in natural medicine before increasing dosages of any supplement you're taking.

And if it turns out that melatonin doesn't work for you, a naturopathic or holistic physician could help you find a natural alternative that will. Contact South African Society for Integrated Medicine on (021) 887-5364 or lucia@integrativemedicine.co.za.