[lit-ideas] Re: the first lines are the argument referred by
- From: Andy <mimi.erva@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:40:03 -0800 (PST)
I'm so sorry you're going through this, Eric. Someone I know recently had the
same surgery and he's now fine. He went back to splitting logs for his
fireplace. Now I'm going to be that obnoxious person who gives you all that
tax-free advice on vitamins for what ails you. Actually, not vitamins, but
food. No doubt you've heard the pill version already. The science of food is
my favorite subject, so feel free to glaze over and delete at this point. I'm
used to talking to myself. So here goes.
The macula in the eye (we all heard of macular degeneration) is very
concentrated in two identified substances (possibly among others not yet
identified) called lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin are yellow
pigments and the macula is all but made of them. Lutein and zeaxanthin are
very concentrated (there are tons of it) in green leafy vegetables, most
notably kale and spinach, although any leafy green is high in it (turnip
greens, mustard greens, collard greens, whatever). Corn has some too. (I once
said corn to someone and she said, oh I love corn chips. I didn't say
anything, but I mean corn, the yellow stuff often frozen in bags that comprises
.00001% (I made up that number for illustration purposes) of the uses of corn
in this country by consumers. Corn is an excellent replacement for meat. So
are potatoes a wonderful replacement for meat. The corn sold to humans is not
the corn that's used in what passes for animal
feed.) Anyway, back to the subject, the macula is so concentrated in lutein
and zeaxanthin, and the American diet is so deficient in them, that it can
almost be argued that macular degeneration (not the same as retinal detachment)
is a dietary deficiency. Strengthening the macula at least theoretically
strengthens the retina, and given how abundant these foods are in everything
else that's good (they're powerful anti-carcinogens, if there is such a thing)
that they're worth a look. Mainstream medicine uses supplements (which you
probably know about) of lutein and zeaxanthin mixed with zinc and I forget what
else (it's on the Ocuvite bottle), but only for moderate and advanced forms of
macular degeneration and it seems to slow progression.
However, given the problems inherent in supplements, and that there are only
benefits from foods high in those substances, food is the much more desirable
alternative. Fish oil is associated with healthier retinas too (I think that's
another ingredient in Ocuvite). Another however, fish oil in certain
populations who take anticoagulants (aspirin, warfarin and now there's another
more powerful one) can be associated with bleeding. The best thing is to eat
fatty fish like wild salmon. Canned salmon is always wild. Salmon fillets
(usually Atlantic) are usually farmed, which makes them about as nutritious as
chicken, not worth the effort. Tuna can be high in mercury so in my opinion
it's best avoided (as are any large predator fish, 90% of which are gone and
probably not in the supermarket anyway). Fish oil has to be marked 'mercury
fee' on the bottle. PCB's might be a problem in fish oil too. I've never seen
PCB-free fish oil on any
shelf. It's best to eat the dwindling supplies of fish. Sardines are good as
far as I know. (Worth mentioning is the ever present advice to check with your
doctor especially if taking anticoagulants).
So, those are my suggestions, for what they're worth. I'm sure you'll soon be
back to splitting that ol' firewood too, although in NYC you might get arrested
if you do that, so, you know, don't. Take care.
Andy
________________________________
From: Eric Yost <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx>
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 3:20 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: the first lines are the argument referred by
First retinal surgery was more painful.
Apropos of our discussion of mind-brain, as my vision opened in the left eye,
my “brain” had some vertiginous reaction to reconciling the two images given by
each eye, a restlessness and disorientation. My mind observed the effect,
evaluated it as a new processing orientation, and shared this information with
the people around me, in the form of half-objective kvetch and/or plea for
attention.
From:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Judith Evans
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 2:42 PM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: the first lines are the argument referred by
Ugh. I hope it doesn't hurt too much
Judy Evans, Cardiff
--- On Tue, 8/11/11, Eric Yost <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Eric Yost <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: the first lines are the argument referred by
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tuesday, 8 November, 2011, 19:03
By the way, I have had a second retinal detachment surgery and am still
recovering, so it’s impossible to keep up with the list’s intense volume. When
eye heals and gas bubble goes away, I’ll get some idea of what’s going on in
the external world or my self-representation of it.
From:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Phil Enns
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 11:40 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: the first lines are the argument referred by
Donal McEvoy wrote:
"Wondering which Hilary Putnam(and on which planet) Eric means?"
Perhaps this one?
'I shall, in short, argue that pain is not a brain state, in the sense of a
physical-chemical state of the brain (or even the whole nervous system), but
another kind of state entirely. I propose the hypothesis that pain, or the
state of being in pain, is a functional state of a whole organism.' (Putnam,
'The Nature of Mental States')
Sincerely,
Phil Enns
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