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March 27, 2008
Dear Friend,
Vision may well be our most precious sense, and it’s one that we often take for granted—until we start to lose it. Many people assume that vision loss is caused by bad genes or bad luck. Others think it is an inevitable part of aging, which just isn’t the case. The truth is, there are steps you can take to preserve your vision or dramatically improve existing conditions that can allow you to live the rest of your life with the blessing of healthy eyes.
Scientific research makes it clear that eating a good diet, maintaining your ideal weight, avoiding smoking, getting enough physical exercise, and taking targeted nutritional supplements goes a long way toward keeping your eyes strong and healthy.
Below you’ll find a few of the tools you need to implement these healthy habits. And trust me when I tell you that perseverance will pay off. Not only will you notice improvements in your vision, you will also start to see positive changes in how you feel from day to day.
Quick Vision Quiz
- Do you eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day? Plant foods are powerhouses of protective nutrients that help keep your eyes healthy.
- Do you include several weekly servings of spinach, collard greens, and other leafy greens? These dark greens are great sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids abundant in the eyes that filter out harmful radiation. Additionally, a study published this year found that these carotenoids reduced the harmful effects of glare on people with normal eyesight.
- Do you eat several eggs a week? Egg yolks are nature’s richest source of lutein and zeaxanthin.
- Do you take a daily high-potency multivitamin that contains plenty of antioxidants? You simply can’t rely on your diet to provide the levels of antioxidants you need for optimal health. Antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, and zinc protect the eyes from light-induced free-radical damage.
- Do you take supplements containing bilberry, Ginkgo biloba, taurine, and other nutrients that target eye health? Scores of studies demonstrate the protective effects of these nutrients on the eyes. Bilberry improves night vision and visual acuity, Ginkgo biloba enhances circulation to the eye and supports collagen production, and taurine protects against degenerative diseases of the eyes. The best way to ensure that you are getting optimal doses of these nutrients is through supplementation.
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you could be doing more to protect your vision.
Ever Seen a Rabbit With Glasses?
Okay, it’s an old joke, but the message is still a good one. Your mother’s admonitions to eat your carrots so you could see better were right on. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, a member of the carotenoid family of phytonutrients that is being studied for its protective ocular effects. Other foods to eat for eye health include tomatoes and other brightly colored fruits (lycopene); citrus fruits (citrus bioflavonoids); grapes, seeds and all (proanthocyanidins); red and yellow onions (quercetin); and the beverage green tea (polyphenols).
At the same time, make sure you’re getting enough omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These fats are considered essential because they can only be obtained through foods or supplements. Fresh, raw nuts and seeds are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, while cold-water fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, tuna, and trout) and flax are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. I recommend eating salmon or other cold-water fish several times a week, and incorporating one-quarter cup of freshly ground flaxseed into your daily diet.
Exercise Your Right to Great Vision
Because we are so dependent on our sense of vision, the muscles of our eyes are constantly at work. Stressful repetitive patterns such as working at a computer screen, reading, watching TV, or driving for prolonged periods, subject the eye muscles to additional strain and fatigue.
One of the best ways to reduce stress and strain on the eyes, increase flexibility and strength of the eye muscles, and, in some cases, improve visual acuity, is to practice eye exercises. Click here for two of my favorites.
Keep Your Blood Sugar in Balance
When it comes to vision and eye health, most people don’t immediately think of their blood sugar levels—but they should. High concentrations of glucose and insulin in your blood can adversely affect capillaries, the tiny vessels that supply blood, oxygen, and nutrients to cells throughout the body, including your eyes.
There are four nutrients that are particularly effective in keeping your blood sugar levels in the healthy range—chromium, vanadyl sulfate, Gymnema sylvestre, and banaba leaf.
Chromium is a trace mineral that increases your body’s sensitivity to insulin and helps maintain blood sugar levels. Aim for at least 200 mcg of chromium polynicotinate a day. Vanadyl sulfate also increases your body’s natural insulin sensitivity. In addition, it helps support glucose metabolism. I recommend 100 mg daily.
Gymnema sylvestre is an herb used traditionally for balancing blood sugar levels and helping nourish the pancreas (the organ responsible for insulin protection). I suggest taking 400 mg per day.
Finally, there’s banaba leaf extract, which can improve the body’s ability to produce, secrete, and use insulin. The recommended dose of this nutrient is 45–50 mg a day.
* * *
Vision problems aren’t inevitable. By utilizing the right combination of nutritional supplements, practicing healthy eating habits, and executing the eye exercises I’ve provided, you can look forward to healthy eyes and sharp vision for many years to come.
Yours in good health,
Julian Whitaker, MD
P.S. The May issue of Health & Healing is on the way. This month, we’ll discuss the folly of fixating solely on blood sugar levels when it comes to treating diabetes. We’ll also look at natural solutions for a common yet rarely talked about problem: incontinence. Not a subscriber? Sign up today. Just click here to learn more.
In Today’s Health Update
Up the Ante With Antioxidants
Keeping blood sugar levels in check is one way of protecting the capillaries in your eyes. But there’s an even more direct way of strengthening capillaries—antioxidants. This is just one more reason to try my new, improved Triveratrol Plus. In addition to containing trans-resveratrol (the “trans” indicating the most bioavailable form) and red wine polyphenols—a precise blend only found in wine, this amazing formula also includes turmeric, which is an excellent source of curcumin, another one of nature’s hardest-hitting antioxidants.
On top of being a premier free-radical fighter, curcumin excels at promoting a normal inflammatory response. In fact, early research indicates that curcumin helps reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in your brain—the center of vision health.
The Every-Day Herb for Great Vision
Ginkgo biloba is a well-researched every-day herb that can help improve circulation and increase the flow of blood and nutrients not only to your eyes but throughout your entire body as well. Ginkgo also provides the added bonus of neutralizing free radicals.
In addition to its benefits for the eyes, ginkgo promotes circulation to the extremities, and has also been shown to promote greater alertness and enhanced mental clarity.
No More Remembering to OrderóAnd No Running Out!
With the free EasyShip Program, you can have all your supplements arrive at your dooróright on time, exactly when you want them. Plus, you’ll save 10% on all orders, and pay far less in shipping. Just call 1-800-722-8008, and we’ll set it all up for you right now.
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