If you were asking yourself how nutrition affects your eyesight, this is the right article for you. First, let’s consider the following interesting facts:
1. More than 25% of the nutrition your body absorbs goes to feed the visual system.
2. The visual system consumes one-third of all the oxygen that you take in.
3. Metabolism in the eyes is faster than anywhere else in the body.
4. The concentration of vitamin C in the healthy eye is higher than almost anywhere else in the body.
We can say that proper nutrition plays an extremely important role in preventing and treating all of the common eye problems – myopia, presbyopia, cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Let’s look at the role that nutrition may play in various eye conditions.
Myopia (nearsightedness) is a condition that affects almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States. The body takes calcium from the eye to help support bone growth. This calcium deficiency then makes the eye vulnerable to the forces playing on it during prolonged periods of near work and visual stress. You need to consume calcium-rich milk products and stalky vegetables (broccoli, celery, carrots, corn, kale …)
Vitamin C is also important. Low levels of Vitamin C are associated with increases in pressure in the eye.
Nutrients that might be beneficial to nearsighted people would be vitamins B-2 and B-6, folic acid, niacinamide, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus, among others.
Presbyopia is more commonly known as “middle-aged sight” when there is the need for reading glasses beginning at about age forty.
Vitamin E – an anti-oxidant critical in the prevention of cataracts – helped presbyopic people regain their near point vision.
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness.
The standard treatment for cataracts is surgery. But, there is plenty of evidence that cataracts can be invented, and their growth arrested, with proper nutrition.
Most research in the United States generally accepted the fact that cataracts are a degenerative disease caused by free radical damage and that they can be contaminated with anti-oxidant vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and some trace minerals, including selenium and chromium.
Macular Degeneration
The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for fine, detailed vision. A person with macular degeneration loses central vision and also has a poor recovery from exposure to bright lights. The loss of central vision is due to a reduced blood supply to the central portion of the retina.
The nutritional approach that emphasized the anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals – vitamin C and E, zinc and selenium – could be helpful.
The herbs bilberry (Anthocyanosides) and Ginkgo biloba have been used extensively in Europe for many years to help eye conditions, including macular degeneration.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma goes undetected so often because it can develop without producing any noticeable symptoms.
Glaucoma results from damage to the optic nerve.
Suggested nutritional supplements: Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Niacin, Biotin … In Europe, the herbs bilberry and Gingko Biloba have been tested and used for glaucoma treatment.
Featured Image: Better Vision Guide