Rubia Ernest has worked as an optometrist for over seventeen years. Due to health problems, she began delving into nutrition. She's eager to share the knowledge she's gained over the years with as many people as possible. That's why, in addition to her work at the hospital, she's now self-employed and advises people on hormones, nutrition, and lifestyle.
Rubia discovered that her own complaints (hair loss and skin problems) were related to her intestines and a fatty acid deficiency. She had a blood test that mapped her fatty acid profile. That proved to be a turning point. "From that moment on, I connected with people who were working on nutrition and hormones. I found it so interesting that I started training to become a hormone coach myself."
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Earlier this year, Rubia registered with the Chamber of Commerce. "All sorts of random ideas were floating around in my head this past year," she says. "Now it's becoming increasingly clear which direction I want to go." She's working on an e-book in which she wants to share her knowledge about a healthy lifestyle and eye health. And perhaps even some recipes. She also wants to set up a training platform, with a special section for ophthalmology. "I can easily imagine giving more lectures in the future. There's so much to share."
According to Rubia, good nutrition is the foundation of everything. "Nutritional supplements can be helpful if you can't get enough of a particular nutrient from your diet. But I'm a proponent of always taking nutrition as a starting point and only taking supplements if absolutely necessary." She recommends eating an anti-inflammatory diet: lots of vegetables, healthy fats like good-quality omega-3s (preferably with antioxidants), and as few fast carbohydrates as possible, such as those found in white pasta, rice, or bread. "Slow carbohydrates, like those found in vegetables, are better. They support your gut."
Spread vegetables throughout the day
People with ADOA (plus) are advised to eat according to the guidelines of the Nutrition Centre. However, Rubia finds these guidelines somewhat restrictive in some respects. "Why would you only eat vegetables with dinner? I prefer to spread them out throughout the day and put less emphasis on bread." She also emphasizes that needs can vary. "What works for one person isn't necessarily right for another. For example, women over 45 may need more protein. I always look at that very personally."
During her optometry training, Rubia didn't learn about the role of fatty acids and the functioning of mitochondria, the energy factories of our cells. In recent years, she has immersed herself in this topic. "A lot is known about it now," she explains. "Optimizing the cell membrane and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation can have major consequences for your health. You stimulate the production of new mitochondria and help the body eliminate damaged ones. Many chronic conditions are linked to disruptions in these processes and low-grade inflammation. The latter is truly devastating for your body. If you can address that, you might also be able to make a difference in eye conditions. I'm currently working on connecting all sorts of puzzle pieces. My passion still lies in ophthalmology. But I also want to help people in a different way, from a broader perspective on health."
Awareness
Although nutrition hasn't received much attention in ophthalmology, Rubia sees opportunities there. "In diabetes care, nutrition and lifestyle are discussed much more frequently in the office. But even in glaucoma, some studies have already found links between nutrition and the progression of the disease. I'd like to raise awareness of that."
Besides diet, other lifestyle factors also play a role in hormonal balance. "People with eye conditions are often inclined to wear sunglasses," says Rubia. "But especially in the morning, it's important to let natural light fall on your retina. This helps regulate your day-night rhythm and supports your hormone balance." At the same time, she warns against excessive exposure to UV light. "It can cause oxidative stress. Especially in people with fragile eyes, you want to delay the breakdown of retinal cells as long as possible."
ketene
Many people aren't aware of how food affects the body, Rubia says. "Fatty acids, for example, go through several steps in the body. At the end of that process, they can help create or break down inflammation. Inflammatory processes have a function in themselves. But these days, we eat a lot of ultra-processed products. This disrupts the entire chain. Food used to be much purer and less processed. Now it's harder to maintain a balance." The use of pesticides in agriculture also plays a role, according to Rubia, as does the fact that vegetables often contain fewer minerals these days due to soil depletion. All these factors together affect our health. "We consume too much of some substances and too little of what we really need. Omega-3 is a good example. It can support all these processes in the body, but almost no one gets enough of it from their diet. Unless you eat wild-caught oily fish every day, but few people do."
Lifestyle Desk
In her work as an optometrist, there's little time to discuss nutrition or lifestyle during consultations. "Yet, I'd like to do something about it. Perhaps I could set up a lifestyle clinic or consultation hour at the hospital. For anyone who, themselves or in their family, is dealing with hereditary eye conditions. If you feed children what their bodies truly need from a young age, what could that do for the future of their eyes?" She hesitates. "I can't answer that yet regarding ADOA; too little is known about the progression of the disease. But I do believe that nutrition and lifestyle can influence the progression. However, there's no scientific evidence for that yet with ADOA."
Rubia is also aware of the impact food has on her own life. "Of course, I have moments of weakness," she says honestly. "But I eat as little processed food as possible. If I do buy an energy bar, I critically examine the ingredients." She follows the 80-20 rule: eighty percent of the time she eats mindfully and nutritiously, and twenty percent of the time she can be a little more relaxed. "A cupcake for a birthday is perfectly acceptable. But I'm becoming more and more selective about what I choose. Many foods contain a lot of added sugars and are designed to tempt you to keep eating. That's precisely what I want to avoid." That's why she bakes her own energy bars, with nuts, seeds, and dates. "They're naturally sweet and contain fiber. That way I stay energized without throwing my body out of balance."
Pilot
Rubia recently launched a pilot program with Lowie van Eck, who has ADOA and is a passionate runner. "I met him on Instagram in a group for optometrists. I was immediately impressed by his energy and perseverance," says Rubia. "I approached him and asked if he was familiar with the power of nutrition. It was still quite new to him, but after I explained it, he felt it was important to invest in it."
Together, they examined Lowie's fatty acids through a blood test. "That's an important foundation. You want your body to have anti-inflammatory properties, especially if you exercise a lot. Exercise is healthy, but it can also trigger inflammation. Lowie is currently taking an omega-3 supplement. We're also looking together at vitamins and minerals that are important for his eyes and how Lowie can adjust his diet accordingly. Your red blood cells renew themselves every XNUMX days. So we're planning a time in four months to measure again. That way, we can really see what effect diet and supplementation have on him."
Want to read more about hormones, nutrition and lifestyle? Rubia has a blog page on her website.
