The A-Z's of Eye Health
God must be very concerned about His people having good vision, because He mentions the eyes more than 100 times in the Bible. And He has also provided us with a variety of natural compounds that can slow or counteract the degeneration of our precious eyesight.
God promised in Psalm 91 that we will enjoy long life, and we're not going to have a dim vision of life caused by vision thieves! In Simple Steps to Save Your Sight, we looked at some of the most common vision thieves – such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts – and steps we can take to keep our eyes healthy.
Now we will take a further look at one of those steps, "Provide Your Eyes with Critical Nutrients." God has provided just under 20 different vitamins, minerals, herbs, extracts and other nutrients in His plant kingdom that are specifically designed to protect and defend our eyes against a variety of attacks.
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Here are the A-Z's of nutrients involved in eye health:
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) – Known as a universal antioxidant because it is both water and fat soluble, ALA is capable of regenerating other antioxidants that may be used up, deficient or inactive.
B Vitamins - A combination of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 may reduce the risk of any age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in women by 34%, and lower the risk of visually significant AMD by 41%.
Bilberries – High in a bioflavonoid complex, bilberries are potent antioxidants that speed the regeneration of rhodopsin, the purple pigment that is used by the rods in the eye for night vision. Bilberry can help protect and strengthen the capillary walls of the eyes, and therefore protect against glaucoma and macular degeneration. Bilberries, along with their cousins blueberries, can also protect both the lens and retina from oxidative damage, which may make them useful for reducing the risk of cataracts, while improving night vision and helping the eyes adjust to bright light
Vitamin C – This vitamin may play a triple role in eye health. It can help reduce the intraocular pressure in the eye related to glaucoma, and has been linked to a lower risk of developing cataracts. Vitamin C also strengthens many body tissues, including those located in and around the eye.
Cruciferous Vegetable Complex – A combination of beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, parsley, spinach and tomatoes, this extract complex is high in lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C and vitamin A.
Eyebright – Primarily used as a poultice for topical treatments of eye inflammation, eyebright can also be taken internally to protect against some of the symptoms of cataracts and macular degeneration.
Ginkgo Biloba – This herb not only combats free radicals through its antioxidant properties, but it also improves blood flow to the eyes and improves cellular metabolism, bringing nutrients to eye tissue and removing toxins and wastes. Tests have shown that ginkgo extracts may protect retinal tissue against damage, and may help with early-stage macular degeneration.
Glutathione – The lens of the eye depends on this antioxidant coenzyme for maintenance of its protein structure. Glutathione also protects the sulfur-containing proteins from oxidizing; aids in the constant exchange of sodium, potassium and calcium moving in and out of the lens cells; and slows the breakdown of DNA, assisting in flexibility maintenance.
Lutein Along with zeaxanthin, lutein makes up the yellow portion of the macula. Powerful antioxidants, they act as natural sun blockers, screening out the most dangerous UV rays to protect the sensitive parts of the eye. Macular degeneration is directly related to the lack of lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein may also protect eyes against the effects of long-term computer use.
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine – This nutrient helps maintain adequate levels of glutathione.
Pine Bark Extract/Pycnogenol – Research has shown that Pycnogenol may strengthen vascular cells in the eye and improve the flow of blood in the tiny blood vessels of the retina to avoid the progression of retinopathies.
Quercitin – In addition to being beneficial to tear production, quercitin has repeatedly been shown to decrease cataract formation and help in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy by strengthening the blood vessels in the back of the retina.
Taurine – This amino acid is found in the retinal area, and acts as a chemical protector for the nerve endings in the eye that are responsible for transmitting nerve impulses to the brain and forming images.
Vitamins A and E– In addition to being powerful antioxidants, vitamins A and E can help reduce uncomfortable intraocular (eye) pressure in those with glaucoma. Vitamin A may reduce risk of cataracts and night blindness, and a deficiency has been tied to blindness and corneal ulcers.
Zeaxanthin – Zeaxanthin is the most potent antioxidant carotenoid found in the retina and acts as a filter and shield against the damaging near-to-UV blue light from the sun. Macular degeneration is directly related to the lack of zeaxanthin and lutein.
Zinc – Because it is vital in processes in the retina and macula, zinc has been shown to slow vision loss in cases of macular degeneration. Zinc also seems to boost the effectiveness of vitamin A, a vitamin that's vital to eye health.
Take the first step to protecting your eyes by eating a diet full of a variety of fruits, vegetables, including antioxidant-rich berries, citrus, and carotenoid-loaded orange and dark green vegetables.
You may also want to add a supplement to your daily nutritional program that has been specifically formulated to protect your vision. Our Vision Support provides 17 vitamins, minerals, herbs, extracts and other specialized nutrients that strengthen and support the eye, including those listed above (except the B vitamins and vitamin E, which are found in Basic Nutrient Support).
God wants you to enjoy comfortable and stable eyesight throughout your life. So do what you can in the natural to protect your vision, and God will do what only He can do in the supernatural.
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