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Dr. Rani Banik Eye MD

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Dr. Rani Banik Eye MD

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04/10/2021

How should you buy your produce🥗 - organic or conventionally grown?

This is one of the most common questions patients ask me🧐, so for reference, you’re going to want to SAVE🔖this post!!

We all want to eat healthy and avoid pesticides and toxins in our food, but also not break the bank. So what should we do?

Luckily, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) does the research for us and publishes two lists every year called the "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean Fifteen".

The Dirty Dozen list includes 12 fruits and vegetables which contain the highest pesticide and toxin content. Common toxins include Roundup (aka glyphosate, a neurotoxin), and synthetic chemicals which can negatively impact our gut microbiome and liver detoxification pathways, as well as cause endocrine dysfunction.

These 'Dirty Dozen" foods therefore should be bought organic whenever possible.

The ‘Clean Fifteen’ list includes 15 fruits and vegetables which are less likely to contain toxins and may be bought conventionally-grown.

Here's the Clean Fifteen List for 2021:

🥑Avocado
🌽Sweet Corn
🍍Pineapple
🧅Onion
Papaya
🍈Honeydew Melon
Cauliflower
Sweet Peas (frozen)
🍆Eggplant
Asparagus
Cantaloupe
🥦Broccoli
🥝Kiwi
Mushrooms
Cabbage

In case you missed it, check out my post from last week that has the “Dirty Dozen” list!

**Keep in mind that "organic" does not necessarily mean 100% pesticide-free, but ensures that synthetic chemicals and genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) were not used.

Do you buy conventional or organic? How do you decide?

asparagus

04/04/2021

Who’s ready for some Easter eggs? 🍳 🐰

Remember to SAVE🔖 this quick brunch recipe that will be a feast for your eyes! 👀

It’s chock full of lutein, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, glutathione, omega 3 and healthy fats!

- sweet potato toasts (wash and slice sweet potato lengthwise and bake at 420F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway. - top with avocado, sliced tomatoes, h**p seeds, and seasoning
- two 7 minute and 30 second boiled eggs sprinkled with feta and red pepper flakes!

What are you having for brunch today?

Posted •

03/29/2021

✨Migraine Fact #13✨

More than 90% of people cannot function as they normally would when having a migraine attack.😳

It is not only the headache component of migraine that is debilitating, but many other symptoms can interfere with normal life including:

- migraine aura
- light sensitivity
- sound sensitivity
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness
- fatigue
- cognitive dysfunction
- balance issues
- as well as the many other symptoms associated with migraine

The most difficult part of migraine attacks is that these symptoms are invisible. They are felt internally, with minimal to no external signs.

And even though someone may look OK on the outside, they may not be OK on the inside.

Migraine is not just a headache, it is a deeply debilitating disease.🤕

If you are a migraine sufferer like me, engage in self-care during your migraine- take a break from your daily responsibilities until your symptoms improve.

If you know someone who is suffering from migraine, support them so that they can rest and let their brains heal. 💕

Did you know this important stat about migraine?

03/21/2021

✨Be Sure To SAVE🔖 This Post!✨

To buy organic or not organic? That is the question...🤔

Each year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases a list of the 12 type of produce highest in pesticides and chemicals.

This list is called the “Dirty Dozen.”

The EWG recommends that items on this list be purchased organic whenever possible.

This year, there are a few new veggies and fruits that were not in last year’s list-

- bell peppers 🫑 and hot peppers 🌶
- mustard and collard greens 🥬

Off the list this year are potatoes 🥔.

Have you ever heard of the “Dirty Dozen?”

03/20/2021

Exactly four years ago, I took 2 huge leaps of faith🤸🏽‍♂️🤸🏽‍♂️

1. I left my full-time career in academia to open a solo private practice in NYC...and

2. I decided to no longer participate in any insurance plans, including opting out of Medicare.

At that time, many solo and small group practices based in NYC were merging into large hospital systems.

Why did I decide to do the exact opposite as my colleagues? And why did I decide to opt out of insurance plans?

One simple answer:

💫FREEDOM💫

I needed the freedom to deliver a deep level of patient care based in an integrative, holistic framework.🌿

In 2016, I began studying and practicing Functional Medicine, a form of integrative medicine, in which the root cause of diseases is addressed. Treatment protocols are extensive and based in nutrition science and lifestyle modification.

A functional approach to eye health requires extended time with each patient. Rather than a typical 10-15 minute appointment, I spend 1-2 hours with each patient to go deep, be able to identify the underlying problem - whether it be inflammation, oxidative stress, micronutrient deficiency, mitochondrial dysfunction, or hormonal imbalance - and then treat based on the root cause.

Whether it be dry eye, macular degeneration, glaucoma, autoimmune eye disease, or migraine, I’ve seen tremendous benefits of using this integrative approach.

Of course, sometimes traditional medical or surgical approaches are necessary, such as glaucoma drops, cataract surgery, or eye injections. My approach is complementary to these conventional treatments, not a substitute for them.

The best part is that I get to develop close relationships with my patients as they go through their journey. I’ve found that patients are so appreciative! 💕

Have you ever heard of Integrative Ophthalmology?

03/14/2021

Spring Forward!💫

This year, with daylight savings time comes not only longer days but so much hope!

Yesterday, I saw some tulips just sprouting and it filled my heart with so much joy!🌷

The pandemic seems to be finally turning the corner. Like many of you, I am looking forward to getting back to some kind of “normal.”

I can’t wait to see family and friends again without as many restrictions.☺️

How about you? What are you looking forward to this spring?🌸

03/07/2021

Posted • .ranibanik Eye on COVID-19 👁 🦠

A year ago, we thought that COVID-19 just caused conjunctivitis in the eye...

But now we realize that this virus can cause a myriad of eye conditions, affecting the front of the eye all the way to the visual centers in the brain.

Here’s just a brief list of what’s been reported-

- Conjunctivitis
- Keratitis
- Endophthalmitis
- Retinal Artery Occlusion
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Optic Neuritis
- Photophobia
- Cranial nerve palsy
- Papilledema
- Cerebral venous thrombosis
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Miller-Fisher syndrome

Some of these entities are caused by direct effects on ocular tissues and others by the inflammatory and/or hypercoagulable state triggered by the virus.

There is still so much we don’t understand about COVID-19 and how it may affect the visual system!

Have you seen or heard of other COVID-related eye manifestations? 👁

02/14/2021

This weekend, no matter what you’re celebrating -

🧧Lunar New Year
❤️Valentine’s
💖Galentine’s
🇺🇸 President’s Day,
or all of the above☺️

I want to send you all positive vibes and lots of 💕 Tagging some of my “gals” here on IG 🥰

PS- though I don’t wear it often, red happens to my favorite color! ❤️❤️❤️What’s yours?

02/12/2021

Guilt-Free Chocolate Mouse😋

Did you know that chocolate mousse can be made with avocado?? 🍫+ 🥑= 🤤

Though it may sound strange, avocado gives this sweet treat a rich and fluffy texture that bursts with flavor!

👈🏼👈🏼SWIPE for the recipe and SAVE 🔖!

Plus, this delectable recipe is super healthy for our eyes 😍, filled with healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants.

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s or Galentine’s this weekend, it’s a perfect treat!

02/10/2021

The Eyes Are Not Just a Window To The Soul... 👀

Let me tell you a story about a patient of mine, Julie.

Julie is a 24-year-old healthy female who suddenly developed vision loss in her right eye - she could only make out shadows. She also had severe pain behind the eye.

Losing her vision so abruptly was terrifying. Julie sought out her local eye doctor who suspected a problem with her optic nerve. She was then referred to me.

To make a long story short, Julie ended up being diagnosed with "optic neuritis", inflammation of the optic nerve. Her subsequent testing showed that the root cause of this inflammation was multiple sclerosis (MS), which affected her brain and spinal cord.

Fortunately, there are amazing medical treatments for optic neuritis and MS, along with key lifestyle and nutritional interventions. Julie is now doing well after treatment, having recovered her vision completely within a few months. She is leading a normal, healthy life with no additional attacks of inflammation.

The reason I share this story is that many people may not realize that the eye👁👁 and brain 🧠 are closely connected. In fact, the eye is a direct extension of the brain, and it can be considered part of the nervous system.

Many neurologic conditions like MS may initially present as vision issues -

- Brain tumors
- Strokes
- Migraine
- Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) aka pseudotumor cerebri (PTC)
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Alzheimer's
- and many more...

This close connection between eye and brain health is what fascinated me since medical school and led me down the path to becoming a neuro-ophthalmologist. I love solving the mysteries of the eye-brain connection - it's truly "eye-opening" 😉

Did you know about the eye-brain connection?

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