Perhaps, conventional medicine is getting wiser after all about stopping the epidemic of osteoporosis through natural means, specifically eating the right foods, according to an editorial in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

It's about time, considering the medical costs associated with osteoporosis have soared to nearly $18 billion in the United States alone. What's more, if we don't get osteoporosis under control, scientists estimate a third of all women and 10 percent of men over age 55 and living on our planet will feel its effects at some point in their lives.

The editorial goes on to point out a study in the very same issue about higher intakes of fruits and vegetables improving the bone density of patients ranging from ages 16-83.

The trick about eating more fruits and vegetables: Consider your body's unique metabolic type when you're modifying your diet. What may be healthy for a loved one may not be good for you.

Another natural tool that's getting a lot of attention: The vitamin D you get from sunshine exposure that, for example, protects the bone health of children before they're born.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 83, No. 6, June 2006: 1254-1255

     An e-mail making the rounds on the Internet that may have even landed in your inbox displays some fascinating pictures of eggs and watermelons that were carved with a high-intensity precision laser beam. Although these intricate carvings are certainly worth a look, this e-mail appears to be a subtle advertisement for the dubious benefits of LASIK surgery.

Here is the short text below that accompanies the images of the watermelon and eggshell carvings landing in people's in-boxes:

These eggshells were cut with a high intensity precision Laser Beam. This gives a very good idea of what can be achieved with a Laser Beam. From this can be surmised what laser surgery performed on one's eye is all about. Is it any wonder how one's vision can be improved in just a few moments? Science is sometimes wonderful, and it's still on the frontier of gaining new knowledge. Incredible what can be done with an eggshell and a laser beam.

What the text doesn't note is that, while these lasers are good at creating the intricate shapes in the watermelons and eggshells, your eyes are not watermelons or eggs. They are more fragile and, of course, they are constantly evolving. In LASIK, lasers similar to these change the shape of your cornea -- the clear covering in front of your eye -- and, therefore, adjust your vision. Unfortunately, there are a lot of risks that come with LASIK. Even the FDA devotes a Web page to the considerable risks, including:

Furthermore, most people think LASIK improves your vision permanently, but that is anything but true. Because your eyes are always changing, you will need to keep revisiting the eye surgeon and likely have updated eye surgery for the rest of your life -- meaning a lifetime faced with LASIK risks such as those noted above.

If you've been thinking about corrective eye surgery but remain concerned about all the complications and dangers, or if you wear glasses or contacts and thought you'd always be stuck with them, consider the Secrets of Regaining Your Vision Naturally CD set, a safe, science-based alternative that few people have heard of (yet) that I personally used to restore my vision.

So when you look at the cool images carved out of eggshells and watermelons, please don't be fooled. Your eyes aren't eggs or watermelons. LASIK is not a safe option. If you want to improve your vision, I strongly urge you to consider the Secrets of Regaining Your Vision Naturally training course.

Watermelons and Eggshells Carved by High-Intensity Precision Laser Beam