Precious Memories
Think back to some of the most wonderful, sights of your life. Is it the first time you laid eyes on your child? The shimmer of the sun on the ocean during a summer evening? Perhaps the outline of your home town coming into view after a long time away.
It’s memories such as these that should motivate you to look after your eyes, and to help you find simple, inexpensive ways in which you can protect this precious sense of yours.
The Latest News
The latest news on natural health care for the eyes is that the right nutrients can have real benefits for those of us moving into our later years but the truth, of course, is that there are steps you can take at any time to keep yourself ‘looking good’ – and the sooner you begin the better.
Keep Yourself in the Picture
Here are the top ten ways to protect your vision naturally:
- Lutein – A naturally occurring nutrient found most abundantly in green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and brocolli, as well as egg yolks, lutein is one of best studied compounds in relation to good eye health. Lutein works by protecting by protecting a part of the eye known as the macula from the damaging of aging, smoking and sunlight. Experts recommend taking doses in the region of 10-15mg daily.
- Zeaxanthin – Considered lutein’s sister compound, zeaxanthin is found in high quantities in collard greens, brussel sprouts and swiss chards. Both nutrients work in a similar way and, along with including these foods in your diet, researchers suggest supplementing 3 or 4mg of zeaxanthin daily.
- Meso-zeaxanthin – The final piece of the macula, meso-zeaxanthin so can only be taken in supplements in doses of around 3mg each day.
- Co-enzyme Q10 – This is one of the most important nutrients for energy production in the body, and is useful in helping protect the eyes from damaging free radicals.
- Bilberry – The eye-protecting properties of this versatile fruit were first discovered during the Second World War, when air force pilots took it to improve their night vision. Research since has shown it to be particularly useful for preventing and improving diabetic retinopathy in doses of 30-60mg each day.
- Blueberry – A study published in June 2009 found that individuals drinking a large glass of blueberry juice each day were able to recover far more quickly from light-induced damage than those who were not.
- Bates Method – This is an alternative eye therapy based on the understanding that most vision problems are caused by tension of the muscles surrounding the eyeball. Treatment involves a series of visualisation and movement techniques intended to remove eye strain and restore sight. You can learn more at www.seeing.org
- Smoking – Cigarettes have a catastrophic effect on eye health, causing inflammation, retinopathy, optic nerve damage, dry eye and cataracts. Give up for optimal health.
- Sugar – The white powder is the reason that diabetics are twenty-five times more likely to go blind than non-diabetics.
- Sunglasses – Exposing your eyes to too much of the sun’s UV rays is one of the most damaging threats to their long-term good health. It’s worth spending a little extra on good quality sunglasses with a high level of UV protection in the lenses.
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