I can see clearly now.....boost your vision!

How can you contribute to your visual health?  Simple; remove (as much as possible) the oxygen and chemical stressors.  How do you do that?  Through practicing wellness (nutrition/lifestyle) and by assisting your body through the intake of God’s natural healing agents, aka “Antioxidants”.  Our eyes age, as we age, and expose ourselves to everyday stress, like sunlight and toxins.  Women over 60 (more so than men) seem to be the most susceptible to vision loss, along with those who suffer from obesity, if you smoke, and if you’re Caucasian.  Visual displays (i.e. computer terminal screens) can also strain your eyes.  While some eye doctors will suggest that there is little you can do to help naturally boost your vision, I say do everything you can to help your body fight toxins, over-exposure and environmental stressors as much as possible, including those that affect our vision.

Antioxidants:  There are two types of antioxidants; fat and water soluble.  Unused/excessive intake of antioxidants will store in the body’s fat cells, possibly causing the reverse effect (toxicity) and should only be consumed as prescribed.  The biggest single source of support to our vision are Vitamins A, E and D, each excellent fat soluble antioxidants that help assist against the overexposure of sunlight’s effect on our eyes.  Supplements with “krill” (compared to Omega 3 Fatty Acids) are also found to be helpful in maintaining good eye support.

Food/nutrition:  Dark green leafy vegetables (i.e. Kale, spinach, and collard greens) contain “Lutein”, an excellent antioxidant source from food.  Studies show vegetables rich in both carotenoid and zeaxanthin contain vision boosting properties that help assist our visual health.  Omega 3 Fatty Acids (found in salmon) are another great resource for protecting your vision, as well.  Both Lutein and Zeaxanthin quickly pass into our eyes, giving our eyes a fighting chance against free radicals.  The amount of both Lutein and zeaxanthin we need daily is up for grabs, but it’s sufficed to say we can obtain what we need through supplements if we lack consumption through diet/nutrition.   Some studies suggest 10 mg of Lutein a day and 2 mg of Zeaxanthin a day.  Check with your doctor before determining what amount you need/should take for your personal wellness.

Lifestyle changes:  Smoking is one of the most directly toxic things we can expose our bodies to, especially increasing free radical production.  Avoiding smoking (including second hand smoke) is a wise first step toward protecting your visual health.

Health/disease/blood sugar:  High blood pressure damages the blood vessels and obstructs the blood flow to your retina.  Too much sugar in our blood pulls fluid from the lens of our eyes, also affecting our ability to focus.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Good Nutrition + Healthy lifestyle = Better visual health.

Quick Tips for Wellness, Pat Ferguson, Copyright ©, 2011

Disclaimer:  The information contained in this blog is not provided by a licensed/medical professional.   For your personal wellness, always seek advice from your medical care provider.