According to MacuHealth, “Only visible light reaches the retina (because non-visible wavelengths are filtered out by the front layers of the eye). Of the visible spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue), only blue light causes injury (because the blue wavelengths are short, and therefore high energy) and only blue wavelengths are deleterious to image formation (because only blue wavelengths are scattered and defocussed by the eye’s optical system).”
Over our lifetime, cumulative exposure to visible blue light (whether atmospheric [outdoors] or whether generated from the light-emitting diodes [LEDs] from screens) is known to cause macular degeneration) and also limits visual performance (because only blue light is appreciably scattered, causing glare and image degradation).
Macular pigment (which is yellow in color) selectively filters out these damaging and image-degrading blue wavelengths of light.”
MacuHealth with LMZ3 Formula contains all three of macular pigment’s constituent nutrients in order to improve visual performance at any age. In addition to supplementation, we may take proactive lifestyle changes to further support our eye health. Keeping electronic devices in “night shift mode”, consider wearing digital screen protection glasses, taking 20:20:20 eye breaks (every 20 minutes, glance away from screen a distance of 20 feet for 20 seconds).
Another front line advocate for natural health, Dr. Mercola has some things to suggest for healthy eyes too...
Natural, Common-Sense Strategies to Help Protect Healthy Vision
Before we get into specific nutritional factors that specifically benefit your eyes, it's important to address some of the lifestyle basics that can impact your vision. Natural, common-sense strategies that will help protect your vision as you age include:
1. Quit smoking. Smoking increases free radical production throughout your body, and puts you at risk for less-than-optimal health in many ways, including the risk of decreased vision.
2. Care for your cardiovascular system. High blood pressure can cause damage to the miniscule blood vessels on your retina, obstructing free blood flow.
One of the primary ways to maintain optimal blood pressure is to avoid fructose. Research by Dr. Richard Johnson, chief of the division of kidney disease and hypertension at the University of Colorado, shows that consuming 74 grams or more per day of fructose (equal to 2.5 sugary drinks) increases your risk of having blood pressure levels of 160/100 mmHg by 77 percent!
3. Normalize your blood sugar. Excessive sugar in your blood can pull fluid from the lens of your eye, affecting your ability to focus. And, it can damage the blood vessels in your retina, also obstructing blood flow.
4. Eat plenty of fresh dark green leafy vegetables, especially kale. Studies have shown that a diet rich in dark leafy greens helps support eye health. And that those with the highest consumption of carotenoid-rich vegetables, especially ones rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, had increased vision health.
5. Get plenty of healthy omega-3 fat. A study published in the August 2001 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology found that consuming omega-3 fatty acids was protective of your healthy vision. Unfortunately, due to widespread pollution and fish farming, fish is no longer an ideal source for omega-3 fats unless you can verify its purity. My favorite alternative is krill oil, which also contains astaxanthin. This potent antioxidant also has specific benefits for your eyes.
6. Avoid trans fats. A diet high in trans fat appears to contribute to macular degeneration by interfering with omega-3 fats in your body. Trans fat is found in many processed foods and baked goods, including margarine, shortening, fried foods like French fries, fried chicken and doughnuts, cookies, pastries and crackers. So, to protect your eyes, avoid trans fats like the plague.
7. Avoid aspartame. Vision problems is one of the many acute symptoms of aspartame poisoning.
In closing, may we take time this month to evaluate our appropriate supports for eye health and overall healthy aging, as we transition from the bounty of summer to the quiet of fall!
Blessings,
Katherine