Eye Health article for Lisa' question ~~ Edith

[Guest guest]

Dear Lisa,

This information was on the list from " Friends for Health Naturally "

--- at the end of the article is the link to the source of the information.

There is an herb called Eyebright and perhaps you could do a web search for

information on it. A very good search engine is www.Lukol.com because it has

a combination of nine other search engines as well -- I think it is a type of

Gateway. Also check out links for " dry eyes "

In England during the war pilots used Bilberry jam, because it relieved problems

with night vision. It is reported to have beneficial effects on eyes, and even

helps with eyestrain.

Keep searching and you will find your answer. Edith

 

 

~*~*~*~*

Eye Health Wed, 30 Apr 2003 20:22:18 -0700 (PDT) JoAnn Guest

<angelprincessjo Vision

Good nutrition supports healthy vision

Eat foods that boost vision. Start by emphasizing foods that contain

carotenoids, which are highly nutritious chemical compounds found in many fruits

and vegetables. Your best choices are spinach and other green leafy vegetables,

tomatoes and other brightly colored fruits, grapes (seeds and all), red and

yellow onions, and the beverage green tea. Phytochemicals in wine also

appear to protect the macula. Researchers at Howard University Hospital in

Washington, DC, who examined the association between alcohol intake and the risk

of poor eye health, found that moderate consumption of wine reduced the risk by

19 percent.

The optimal diet is one that emphasizes plant foods in as close to their natural

state as possible. Plant foods are rich sources of antioxidant vitamins and

minerals that counteract oxidation. Green, leafy vegetables contain high amounts

of vitamin A. Sweet potatoes, squash, and other yellow-orange vegetables are

rich in beta-carotene. Unprocessed oils and grains and raw nuts and seeds

contain vitamin E. Fruits, especially citrus fruits and berries, have high

levels of vitamin C.

Reduce your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol by eliminating high-fat

dairy (cheese, sour cream, butter, whole milk) from your diet and relegating

meat to side dish status a few times a week. Also avoid trans fatty acids, which

are found in margarine, processed oils, fried foods and most commercially baked

goods. And artificial sweeteners -- especially aspartame -- should be avoided

like the plague.

At the same time, make sure you're getting enough of the good fats -- omega-3

and omega-6 fatty acids -- which 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 richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids. I

recommend eating salmon or other cold-water fish several times a week, and

having one to two tablespoons of flax oil, or up to one-quarter cup of freshly

ground flax seed daily. Flax oil should never be heated, as its EFAs are

destroyed by high temperatures. For cooking, use extra-virgin olive oil.

Also, add magnesium-rich foods to your diet. It has been known for over 20 years

that low levels of magnesium are a risk factor of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic

patients tend to have lower blood levels of magnesium than normal, and those

with the lowest levels are prone to having the most severe retinopathy.

The best dietary sources of magnesium are whole grains, nuts and seeds, tofu,

soybeans, and green leafy vegetables. However, in order to ensure protection

against diabetic retinopathy, I recommend supplementing with 1,000 mg of

magnesium daily, balanced in a 1:2 or a 1:1 ratio with calcium (1,000 mg of

magnesium to 1,000-2,000 mg of calcium).

In addition to a good multi-vitamin, be sure to take additional supplements that

give you targeted vision support. The right combination of nutrients can give

you vital support for keeping your eyesight healthy. More targeted nutrients.

http://www.drwhitaker.com/c/store_vision_eye_diet.aspn

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

>>> Message: 6 Wed, 30 Apr 2003 14:00:08 -0400 Lisa

<malica98 Re: NY Times- Top Stories- Vitamins: More

May Be Too Many

Hi all, I have a question... This vitamin topic seems to be controversial and

I am trying to figure out what is best... I know getting nutrients from fresh

foods, etc. is best, but is it enough? I eat three meals a day and usually of

good quality. I don't eat that much junk food and we may eat out once a week,

but I often wonder if I get enough of everything.... As an example, I have a

problem with dry eyes and the eye doctor said it was blari... something or

another, but basically I don't have enough fatty acids to keep my eyes moist and

I can be prone to swelling of the eye, etc. I know this is true because I have

had the swelling before. Now my mother explained that my grandmother had it,

too. Which may or may not mean anything. I have researched and it may just be

a deficiency of omegas. Which brings me back to whether I am eating enough of

everything and should I take a multi-vitamin..... What I did start to do is

just take say two multivitamin instead of the three recommended. I do also

worry about my other daughter who is still breastfeeding and I don't want to

harm her in any way. Although from what I understand, our bodies " know " what

nutrients to put in the breastmilk, but maybe that is not a correct

assumption... Sometimes I think there is too much information out there, my

problem is trying to decipher what is correct and what isn't.... Anyway,

thanks for any input. Lisa >>>