October 4, 2018 - Eye Health
Hey folks, it’s Dr. Sam and I want to talk to you today about how to improve your vision and wellness using holistic methods.
If you’ve been to your doctor recently and you received a diagnosis of glaucoma, macular degeneration, or cataracts, you might feel shocked and ask yourself “how could this happen?” You then may ask your doctor are there any alternative or complementary therapies that can be done to improve vision. And you’re probably met with the answer – “no, there’s nothing you can do. It’s only going to get worse. We’re just going to watch it and when it gets bad enough we can offer you pharmaceuticals or surgery.”
Well, I’m here to say that there are many science-backed holistic methods that you can use to improve your vision. So let’s go to the science.
In one paper that was published in Nutrition Review, researchers took a look at the big three eye diseases – glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. They found that there were certain risk factors which caused these diseases, including smoking, obesity, and poor dietary habits. Upon the recommendation of eating foods with more antioxidants and phytochemicals, they found that these diseases may be prevented or at the very least slowed down.
In another research study that was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers took 39,000 women over a ten year period and they gave them foods which contained lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin D. They found that there was a significantly decreased risk of developing cataracts if they included these nutrients regularly in their diet.
In a third research paper, researchers are studying the effects of oxidative stress on glaucoma. We know Glaucoma is a vascular disease of the eye and what researchers found is that if people ate foods that contain the trace mineral magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, and Gingko. They had a lower risk of developing glaucoma.
So the science is there – no doubt about it. But in terms of embarking on this journey of a more holistic approach, know that it takes time. Take the long view. Trust the process and know that it may take upwards of 6-12 months before seeing substantial improvement.
This includes things like changing your diet, reducing stress, more deeply understanding the relationship with your eyes, and removing toxicities from the body. But ultimately it’s worth it – it’s connecting you to your own bio-intelligence. Your body is a fantastic natural healer, but it takes time. And if you can stay patient and truly adopt these healthy lifestyle changes over the long-term, you’re going to be very successful at not only improving your vision but also improving your overall wellness.
So that’s my message for today. Thank you so much for tuning in. And until next time take good care.