Health

I recently had to go to RUH in Bath to have my eyes inspected by Richard Antliff the Consultant Ophthalmologist. Who confirmed what my optician suspected that I have a condition known as ERM Epiretinal Membrane (or Macular Pucker).

ERM is the result of scar tissue forming over the macular (the central part of the retina) it is part of the healing progress when the retina is damaged in some way. The scar tissue shrinks and this causes a "pucker" or wrinkling of the tissue that gives rise to blurring and a distortion of straight lines. Mr Antcliff who had a full clinic didn't have time to go into great detail; only that surgery is not advised unless there is a deterioration in sight that presents a negligable risk to the benefits.  It doesn't usually progress, so with a bit of luck I can live with it. It rarely goes away though.

A few times in my life I have had muck in my eye and recently had some flying insect hit me in the eye and had got a shrub branch in the eye whilst doing some pruning. Maybe, I had damaged the eye, a bit of muck or grit had damaged the back of the eye where the retina is, I don't know. I'll ask next time I go to the doctors.

Whilst it might be going too far to suggest that we wear safety glasses when we are gardening. It would be sensible to wear safety glasses when we are at risk, particularly when using gardening machinery. A strimmer can project dangerous material at very high velocities. Anyone using an electric drill without safety glasses is just daft.  Hearing can also be damaged by gardening machinery. And just for good measure - all dust is dangerous.

I naturally carried out a Google search and found several websites on the eye. This website is by far the best I have found. It's Ted Montgomery's website: Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology of the Human Eye  

Incidentally, I have inspected my own eyes by using a digital camera close up. It's quite surprising what you can see.

Butter or Vegetable Oil?

We have been advised to use vegetable oil rather than butter or other animal products for cooking. since most vegetable cooking oils contain 120 Kcal and butter is only 90 kcal per tablespoon I have wondered about the logic of cooking with vegetable oil rather than butter, which arguably tastes better anyway.

I use a wok, a Le Creuset wok, for cooking on a daily basis and note that I need a tablespoon of cooking oil to ensure that my food is not burnt. On reviewing my kcal consumption I have noted that cooking oil is a significant factor in my calorie consumption. A typical meal will require 120 kcal, that's one tablespoon. when I have finished cooking there is no residue left in my wok. Whereas by using butter I have noted that I am only using the same amount  as oil for cooking and, And, there is even butter left in my wok after cooking.

It seems to me that cooking with butter is not only tastier but also provides less calories, possibly less than as listed, as some is left for the next meal. We also need fat in our diet so have we been advised correctly?

Incidently a proper wok is hemispherical and will need less oil than one that has a flat bottom. I forgot to include this link when I originally posted this article: Butter is good for you 

I have also found another link that provides information about the possible health benefits of eating what we have been told to avoid-  the number one being fat. Unhealthy or healthy food?