April 11, 2021 - EyeClarity Blog
People diagnosed with Wet Macular Degeneration (WMD), including women in the 50-70+ age range, know that life ahead should be enjoyed to the fullest.
The visual sharpness and detail that can erode, along with color clarity due to WMD, really challenge the ability to live an enriched life.
What happens with WMD, which can start as Dry Macular Degeneration, is that the macula (the center of the retina) develops abnormal blood vessels, causing an imbalance which leads to oxidative stress. The resulting puddle of fluid at the back of the eyes triggers the WMD’s visual distortion, inflammation, and loss of visual detail.
But there’s hope through holistic healing. Anti-VEGF, the group of medications that are routinely prescribed for patients with this condition, are avoidable with the right, holistic balance.
Natural remedies do reduce WMD’s abnormal blood vessel growth – often removing the need for monthly injections that often cause high anxiety and discomfort – or the drugs that usually treat only side-effects.
Holistic solutions may also negate the prospect of surgery. And while age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause for premature blindness in developed countries, it’s never too late to make wise routine choices.
Bonus: these simple lifestyle improvements will make dramatic, noticeable improvements in whole body health – not just eye health. And seeing is believing.
1. EAT
Nearly all health issues, including WMD, are significantly affected by everyday food and beverage choices. Everything that we eat and drink is either doing something good – or bad – for our body.
Not everyone can eat a regular diet loaded with fish and greens (ideal for eye health and total-body wellness). But taking nutritional baby steps is manageable for everybody.
The results are extraordinary when developing a habit of eating nutritious foods, and focusing on delicious, key anti-inflammatory ingredients.
The proverbial “carrot” for good vision is not far from reach: Carotenoids are the agents of colors found in carrots, pumpkins, tomatoes, salmon, shrimp, and lobster, to name a few.
Under the umbrella of Carotenoids, are the spectacular sunrise-colored foods containing lutein and zeaxanthin. Raw corn (non-GMO), oranges, peaches, papaya, watermelon, and egg yolk are superstars in this diet, pairing well with kale, spinach, broccoli, peas, and lettuce (organic when possible).
Boosting intake of these ingredients can even prevent the onset of age-related eye diseases. Organic foods are readily abundant at stores, farm stands, natural food markets, even online.
2. PURGE
At the root of eye evils, is the alluring, ever-present siren song of sugar. People eliminating or restricting sugar in foods and beverages (yes, this includes wine), especially processed sugars, see dramatic and quickly noticeable results.
Hands down, a low or no-sugar diet is one of the best overall health boosters. To purge the kitchen of sugary suspects is to watch symptoms of WMD improve, the risk of obesity and diabetes diminish, fitness levels to skyrocket, and fitful sleep to markedly improve.
Naturally, depression and anxiety issues also fade, thanks to this one dietary lifestyle choice.
3. DETOX
Heavy metal makes for a better music genre, than it does a harmful presence inside the body. Heavy metal toxicity has a known, serious cause-and-effect on Macular Degeneration patients.
Arsenic, lead, chromium, and nickel are among the potent alloys that accumulate in the body and eyes. Eating fresh, raw fruits and vegetables like apples and celery help rid the body of these metals.
Also, quitting smoking results in quantum leaps toward overall wellness, including marked improvements in eye health. The American Lung Association (ALA) has a direct helpline here. The ALA confirms the somber fact that cigarettes have more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 79 of those chemicals are known cancer-causers.
Sometimes it takes a good habit to replace a bad one; if an urge to smoke crops up, immersion in favorite music (heavy metal or any other), plus a brisk walk around the block, are fun and spirited steps toward the goal.
4. REMOVE
Lovers of dairy products have varying, if any, noticeable reactions to dairy’s notorious inflammatory and poor digestion effects. Removing dairy can reduce the chance of developing a new or worsening case of WMD. If you crave it, try sheep’s milk, raw farm milk, or try weaning off by blending a small amount of dairy with oat, almond, or coconut milk options.
With today’s market being saturated in dairy-free choices, the sky is the limit for making a smooth move toward better optical health.
Also, the resulting good-gut benefits will please anyone seeking to curb bloating digestive problems and the common, serious leaky gut syndrome. Harvard Medical School gives straightforward answers everyone should know about leaky gut and positive outcomes, here.
5. EXERCISE
Common knowledge and abundant research prove that the positive tentacles of exercising reach the whole body. But then there are eye-specific exercises that not only improve vision and eye health, but they feel great.
Eye exercises, like eye yoga, can be found on this website. They are postures toward creating new pathways to seeing, and to maximizing the naturally abundant plasticity in the eyes. Call it ocular “OM.”
6. BLOCK
Cell phones, televisions and laptops increasingly command attention, with devastating effects on once-healthy vision. The resulting blue light from screens (and is even found in sunshine), wreaks havoc on tired, working and watching eyes, but not without a solution.
Blue-blocker filter technology is easily found in glasses with or without a prescription. The simple step of reducing blue light will directly benefit patients contending with WMD, and even make for a more restful night’s sleep.
7. COLOR
If it is a new concept rooted in ancient history that you seek, welcome to the amazing world of color therapy (a.k.a. chromotherapy).
Adults are discovering at a sweeping pace, how coloring and color therapy can be very soothing and helpful for the photo receptors. Not to mention mitigating stress. And a collection of beautiful art and self-discovery easily happen through the process.
Exploring the many facets of color and how they affect our vision and psychology through color therapy, is clearly worth looking into.
8. COMMUNE
Talking about holistic eye health with others is crucial on your journey.
Visiting the https://www.drsamberne.com/ website frequently is a good way to take advantage of the wealth of up-to-date information for everyone. An exclusive, active forum for WMD patients features real-world discussions and support that includes hints for lifestyle and nutrition choices: found here on maculardeneration.net.
What lies at the core? A growing school of evidence confirms the relationship between good “gut health” and good eye health.
Consider buddying up with someone virtually or in a socially safe manner and get a biochemistry analysis to see what nutrients you may lack for optimum health. (Then your baseline is set.) It’s empowering to see quantitative and qualitative results of your good efforts.
Afterward, if possible, why not stop for a healthy smoothie or juice bar drink to go, hoist a toast to the path – one toward maximum wellness – and farther away from inflammatory disease.
9. SUPPLEMENT
Taking an overall eye nutrient vitamin like Dr. Berne’s Eye Vitamin does more than make your eyes feel like sparkling and beaming with relief. The right nutrient supplements also promote full-body benefits.
For optimum optical health in an eye vitamin blend, several ingredients are recommended here. Many are familiar – cinnamon, ginger, grapeseed, magnolia and omega 3’s. Other ingredients include curcumin (an even stronger anti-inflammatory agent than the mighty turmeric), ginkgo, angelica, wormwood, quercetin, bilberry, and the esteemed liver-cleansing milk thistle.
What’s more, these abundantly found-in-nature products help to lift weight problems, depression, and age-related issues that people commonly experience without relief to be found elsewhere.
Fortunately, everyone benefits by the truly natural, multi-step approach introduced here. A growing number of people contending with WMD can and do move away from needing drugs, injections, surgery, or even blindness. It certainly doesn’t hurt to try.
No time is needed to notice how much better the eyes and overall body can start to look and feel, by following these holistic helpful hints. Getting older in and of itself does not guarantee eye failure; but failure to treat the core issues does guarantee more challenges ahead.
Here’s to natural solutions for optimum optical health, wellness, and beauty-to-behold far into the future.