Eye Health

• Lately I have had more than a couple of people approach me with questions about problems they have concerning their eyes. From cataracts to the more unfamiliar ocular rosacea. The eyes are a delicate area that many times seem to be forgotten until something happens that draws our attention to them. Listed below are some techniques and supplements you can use to help prevent future problems and also how they help with specific issues.

Products for Prevention:

• Eyebright is an herb that has antibacterial and astringent properties. It is rich in vitamins A and C. It will aid in the healing of conjunctivitis (pink eye), and sore, stinging inflammation as well as discharge from the eye. It can help to improve vision, relieve intra-ocular pressure and protect the optic nerve in the early stages of glaucoma. This herb is also used to remove cataracts; people usually see results anywhere from 1 week to 3 months to a year or more. It contains a glycoside called aucoboside which strengthens the capillaries and improves circulation to the eyes. You can use Eyebright to make a eyewash tea. *See below for instructions.
• Bilberry Extract is a potent antioxidant source geared toward the eyes. These anti-oxidants are able to cross the blood-brain barrier to neutralize free radicals in brain and other nerve tissue including the eyes. It will help improve night vision, reduce eye irritation from smog, light sensitivity and help for macular degeneration. Often vision will improve during the first two weeks, however continued use over time is needed for the greatest benefit. Bilberry also will strengthen blood vessels and capillaries to help with easy bruising and varicose veins.
• Combination EW ™ is combination of herbs that are used to soothe and cleanse the eye.
• Perfect Eyes is a wonderful formula that encompasses a blend of herbs and nutrients to support general eye health. It will help to prevent the effect of aging such as macular degeneration. In 2 capsules it contains 6 mg lutein, 2500 IU of beta-carotene, 14 mg zinc and 50 mcg Selenium in a proprietary blend of eyebright, bioflavanoids, N-Acetyl-l-Cysteine, Taurine, bilberry concentrate and curcuma root extract. All of these ingredients are powerful anti-oxidants that will protect the eye in general and also from sun damage. They are also nutritionally important throughout the body.
• How to make an eye wash: For a small batch, boil 1/4 cup of clean water and add powder of 1 Eyebright capsule. Let stand for 10 minutes, then strain through a fine filter, such as coffee filter paper, to remove all of the herb powder. For a larger batch, make into a tea using 2-4 capsules per cup of water. Be sure to strain carefully and refridgerate anything that you don’t use immediately. Make a fresh batch every 2-3 days to avoid infection.
• Take Fish Oil regularly: Super Omega 3-EPA is an excellent product that contains both EPA (eicosapentanoic acid ) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The DHA in formula will help promote and protect retinal function. DHA is concentrated in the eyes retina and studies have shown that it helps in the prevention of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. This is a safe way to get fish oil since I don’t recommend eating fish due to high levels of  mercury and other toxins found in fish from oceans, lakes and streams and farm-raised fish. Nature’s Sunshine’s Super Omega 3-EPA is guaranteed to be pure and is tested at the highest of standards.

Foods to Eat:

• Eat dark colored berries. They work by strengthening the capillaries that carry nutrients to eye muscles and nerves.  They taste great and they are good for you. Try blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, bilberries. Yum.
• Eat at least 8-10 servings of fresh and preferably organic fruits and vegetables a day (if you can’t get fresh use frozen). Yes, you read that correctly…you must eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to get the nutrition you need daily. The benefits could fill up pages of pages of my blog and I don’t have time to list them all and I’m sure you know a lot of them. The main reason they are so good for eye health is that they contain the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your eyes (and your whole body) need to function properly. They also contain fiber which helps with colon health including problems with constipation and in turn helps detoxify the body.

Foods to avoid:

• Trans Fats are fats that have been chemically altered and are extremely detrimental to your health and can be especially harmful to eye health. A diet high in trans fat can contribute to macular degeneration. Trans fat can also do damage in that they interfere with omega-3 fats (the fats found in the above mentioned fish oil product Super Omega -EPA) which are extremely important for your eye health.Trans fat is found in many processed foods and baked goods, including margarine, shortening, fried foods like french fries, fried chicken and donuts, cookies, pastries and crackers. *Important tip: Read labels and if the product contains Partially Hydrogenated Soybean or any other kind of oil in the ingredients put it back on the shelf because it contains trans fats.

Check out the Nature’s Sunshine product specials for this week. ** Specials are only available to NSP members. How do you become a member? Find out by clicking here.

To learn more visit http://www.naturalhealthanswers.com

Questions or Comments on this information? Email me at Paige@mynsp.com