I woke today with a thick fog surrounding my home, the mist creating a kind of dream-like effect all around. It made me think of how we see things. As we head into this new year, let’s focus on how we are viewing the world. Our vision for our upcoming year should be fresh, clear, and positive. Avoiding focusing on the fear that may be being directed at us.
Having been diagnosed with degenerative eyesight when I was a teenager, I found that vision is something that is very important to me. I wanted to protect my sight and to also improve it as much as possible.
So, let’s look at the various things that can affect our eyesight.
We are now around electromagnetic radiation just about everywhere we go. With the satellites they have launched, no one on earth can escape it. Electromagnetic radiation can cause dry eyes. Lubrication of the eyes is extremely important. Dry eyes can cause vision loss and if it left too long, it can cause corneal scarring and permanent vision loss.(1)
I make my own saline solution. I use purified water that I add a tiny bit of mineral-rich salt to, and then I stir it in a circular motion until it creates a vortex. The stirring creates structure, and then I store it in a clean eye-drop kind of bottle. When my eyes feel dry, I simply put a few drops of my mineral-rich structured-water drops in my eyes.
Diet alone might not change your vision, but adding certain foods to your diet might ensure that your eyes get all of the optimum nutrition they need. Make certain that you include specific food groups into your diet that can aid in restoring your vision naturally.
Some of the specific vitamins that have been shown to help with eye health are Vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, zinc, lutein, Omega-3-Fatty-Acids, glutathione, chromium, and magnesium. Many of these nutrients are destroyed in the soil and the food by the herbicides used on them (like Round-Up, containing the glyphosate chemical). Foods grown in this way are deficient of these important vitamins and minerals. I recommend buying certified organic, non-GMO foods whenever possible, hoping they contain the maximum amount of nutrition.
At the top of the list is Vitamin A. Vitamin A is found in beta carotene-rich foods. These are the orange and yellow fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene is a major part of a strong immune system. Once beta carotene is absorbed into the body, it helps produce vitamin A, which is incredibly important for a person’s eyesight. Vitamin A helps reduce inflammation, supports the neurological processes, and protects the body against infections. Food sources containing beta-carotene are sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, apricots, squash, and pumpkin.
Although all nutrients and minerals are important for optimum health, there are a few nutrients that are critical to health. One of those nutrients is the Vitamin B complex.
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is unique in that it is almost exclusively found in animal sources such as meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. It is the B vitamin I have found to be vitally important for vegetarians in particular. As Dr. Joseph Mercola notes, “microorganisms, primarily bacteria, are the only known organisms that manufacture B12. These bacteria often live in bodies of water and soil.”(2)
The less frequently you obtain Vitamin B12, the more you need to take, as Vitamin B12 is best absorbed in small amounts. A daily supplement of 10 mcg is required. But, the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B12 from dietary supplements is limited. “For example, only about 10 mcg of a 500 mcg oral supplement is actually absorbed in healthy people.”
Symptoms of a B-complex or B12 deficiency include energy-loss, blurred vision, tingling, numbness, reduced sensitivity to pain or pressure, abnormal gait, sore tongue, poor memory, confusion, hallucinations, and personality changes. Often these symptoms develop gradually over several months to a year before they are recognized as being due to a B12 deficiency, and they are usually reversible upon the administration of B12.
When I read this list of symptoms, it really caught my attention. Lack of Vitamin B could have been one of the contributing factors to my vision problems that I had battled all of my life. Eating too much sugar and cooked meats can deplete the body’s chromium and B vitamins, according to Dr. Ben C. Lane, of the Optical Society, contributing to fluid pressure in the eye, a contributing factor for developing nearsightedness.
Make certain you are getting adequate amounts of all of the B vitamins.
Next on the list is Vitamin C.
Something that is good to be aware of is that most of the supplements on the store shelves are synthetic. This means that they are chemically derived from natural or unnatural sources and frequently sold as “all natural”.
Many vitamin C supplements are synthetic. They label it as “ascorbic acid.” It may be “buffered” with minerals to decrease its acidity; but most vitamin C supplements are lacking a whole array of nutrients.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Vitamin C contributes to the development and maintenance of body tissue, as well as collagen located in the corneas. Studies have shown that Vitamin C “may reduce the risk of cataracts, and when taken in combination with other essential nutrients, it can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity loss.”(3)
Many fruits and vegetables are rich in Vitamin C, including oranges, grapefruit, limes, lemons, strawberries, papayas, red bell peppers, and tomatoes. Heat can break down Vitamin C, so I recommend eating at least one piece of whole real, organic fruit a day in its raw form, so you get the most Vitamin C possible. The nutrients in red peppers can also be beneficial to the blood vessels located in the eyes.
Vitamin D is critical for protecting our eyes from diseases. It’s known to prevent AMD (age-related macular degeneration), glaucoma, dry eye syndrome and cataracts. It also enables your eyes to heal from injury. Studies have shown it to have antineoplastic properties, meaning it fights cancer.
Vitamin D helps in the prevention of diabetes. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness. Low Vitamin D lowers insulin resistance. This means the extra glucose in the bloodstream doesn’t get utilized by the cells. You can overcome insulin resistance with healthy doses of Vitamin D. So, get out in the sunshine without sunscreen daily, and get some of it through your eyes.
When light penetrates the eyes, it activates the photoreceptors of the retina. This delivers impulses through the optic nerve back to the brain. That is actually how we see.
The light goes into the retinal-hypothalamic pathway, which stimulates the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the master gland of the body. The hypothalamus helps us balance our circadian rhythms, by connecting with the pineal and the pituitary glands.
Since this is so important, I might suggest getting sunlight in the eyes every day. You might do this before 9 am and after 5 pm, it’s important to get at least 30 minutes of light into your eyes daily, even in the winter. Some folks who don’t get enough light into their eyes can actually get depressed. When we don’t get enough light into our eyes, this can have an impact on our mood.
Dr. Joseph Trachtman wrote a wonderful article relating light stimulation to the hypothalamus and eye health. He found that light stimulation is needed to help support retinal health, increase tear production, reduce ocular inflammation, and improve neurological health. (4)
We actually require light like we require food. Dr. John Ott, in his book “Health and Light,” says that if we are malnourished of light, especially through our eyes, it can actually have a direct negative affect on our eyesight and overall health.
Food sources for Vitamin D are: dairy milk, egg yolk, salmon, sardines, shitake mushrooms, fortified yogurts, and orange juices.
A combination of sun exposure and dietary intake will give you some Vitamin D each day.
I am not saying that you should go out and stare directly into the sun for a long period of time, but just be aware that we need to get some sunshine through our eyes in some way, daily, and do it safely. I stopped wearing sunglasses years ago, except when I am in a situation where there is a lot of glare and I am there for a long period of time, like snow skiing or being at the beach. I have found that my eyes can actually handle stronger light now than when I wore sunglasses regularly.
Along with Vitamin D and getting it through the eyes, Vitamin E can help protect the eyes from harm from the sun’s rays.
Let’s look at healthy fats, including Vitamin E and Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids.
Vitamin E protects cells in the eyes from free radicals, which cause oxidative stress and contribute to the breakdown of healthy tissue.
Concerning healthy fats, it’s important to address the source of the water you drink, bathe, and swim in. Almost all public water supplies have chemicals added, including sodium fluoride and chlorine, both of which are poisons.
The chemical chlorine has been found to destroy Vitamin E and Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids in the body, as well as the good probiotics in the intestines.
“Industrial chemist J.P. Bercz, PhD, showed in 1992 that chlorinated water alters and destroys unsaturated essential fatty acids (EFA’s), the building blocks of people’s brains and central nervous systems.”(5)
Omega-3 provides numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation in the body. Also, in studies conducted with infants, they found that getting the necessary amount of Omega-3 for babies was essential in optimal vision development. Omega-3 is also thought to aid in preventing dryness in the eyes.
Fish are among the foods rich in Omega-3: tuna, salmon, herring, mackerel, trout, and sardines, but the oceans today are so high in mercury, that I don’t really recommend eating fish. So, my suggestion would be to get your Omega-3 Essential Fatty acids from cold-pressed flaxseeds and hempseed supplements found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.
Hempseeds are a great source of Vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid buying hemp or flax seeds already ground, because they lose their nutrition when they are exposed to oxygen. If you want to add these foods to your diet, I would grind them yourself, right before you are using them in your recipe.
Good food sources of Vitamin E include: leafy greens (Swiss Chard, beet greens, baby kale, and baby spinach), seeds (sunflower, hemp, flax seeds), nuts (almonds, peanuts), butternut squash, and avocados.
Organic seeds and nuts (like almonds) are also rich in fiber and proteins, along with several minerals
A note about almonds:
Almonds are high in Vitamin E. The unfortunate thing is that the US has made a law to pasteurize all the almonds. The pasteurization destroys the Vitamin E and other nutrients in the almonds. You can purchase raw, unpasteurized almonds, from Tierra Farm, or Nuts.com, or Blue Mountain Organics.
Lutein-rich foods can help reduce the risk of age-related eye diseases.
Lutein-containing foods are baby spinach, kale, collard greens, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, and broccoli.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are powerful carotenoids, which are the antioxidant compounds found in plants that are the color pigment. These powerful antioxidants are in generous abundance in the macula, which is the section of the retina responsible for detailed and centered vision.
The macula makes it possible for individuals to see fine details. Lutein and zeaxanthin are linked to a lower chance of macular degeneration and cataracts. You can find lutein and zeaxanthin in baby kale, baby spinach, orange bell peppers, and egg yolks.
Zinc helps to support a healthy immune system and support brain health. A zinc deficiency can make one more susceptible to infection, and has also been found to be a contributing factor in people who are getting the symptoms associated with covid.
Zinc aids Vitamin A in creating melanin, a pigment that protects the eyes. If one is deficient in zinc, you might experience night blindness or macular degeneration.
Zinc-rich foods that improve and support healthy eyesight are pumpkin seeds, egg yolks, whole wheat, lean beef, fortified cereals, lean pork, and lamb.
Surprisingly, eggs can be an important factor in promoting good vision. The nutrients found in eggs increase the amount of the eye’s protective pigment. The egg yolk nutrients can aid in blocking harmful light from entering the retina of the eye.
Whole eggs can provide most essential nutrients. The egg white contains more than half the egg’s protein, and is also a beneficial source of Vitamin D, B12, B6, selenium, copper, and iron.
Anthocyanins (the dark blue/black color pigment) are particularly ideal for reducing the retina inflammation associated with some eye diseases, and are studied extensively for improved eyesight, particularly at night. Numerous studies conducted in Europe and Israel confirm that eating blueberries regularly may help improve night vision.
The 1998 issue of The Blueberry Bulletin, released by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension in New Jersey, looked at a study of Israeli fighter pilots. It showed that soldiers might gain tactical benefits by regularly consuming blueberries, because compounds in blueberries appear to enhance capillary elasticity and eye permeability, resulting in improved vision in the dark.
In WWII, the Royal Air Force (RAF) bomber pilots apparently didn’t want to fly at night unless they had consumed bilberries in their food or drink. They said they could see better at night on their missions. Because of this, bilberries have been widely studied throughout Europe ever since.
The European studies looking at the bilberry (similar to the blueberry) shows that bilberries help improve overall eye health, inhibit the formation of cataracts, and protect against glaucoma, as well as improve eye function at night.
People in Japan buy small vials of blueberry juice for the benefits of reduced eyestrain and improved weak eyesight, because of the results of a study on “Nutrients For The Prevention Of Macular Degeneration and Eye-related Disorders.” (6)
Not only do blueberries help protect the brain against age-related decline, but they also help protect the central nervous system, increasing cell membrane fluidity while reducing levels of inflammatory compounds. No matter how they are consumed, adding blueberries or berries with the rich anthocyanins (the dark blue/black color pigment) , to your regular diet can contribute to overall health. These antioxidants can be found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, black currants, purple grapes, raspberries, cherries, red cabbage eggplant skins, oranges, red and purple olives, and bilberries.
If we consume enough vitamins from our food, we won’t have to supplement.
In addition to our diet, and our lifestyle of getting more sunlight and cutting out EMF’s when possible, emotions can also directly affect our health and our eyesight.
With the fear-mongering propaganda being pushed at us from every direction in the last couple of years, that is bombarding us from the media, road signs, tags on articles or social media posts, it is no wonder that people are having some vision problems, because they want to avoid these messages. I for one have been focusing on finding out the truth, as best as I can, but also to focus on faith. The fear-based life is letting go of faith. Faith and our own divine spark can provide us with insight, healing, and protection that can be a very powerful part of maintaining health and staying well.
Fear blocks the Divine from us, and can actually put our body in a fight or flight mode that reduces the immune systems’ strength. If we look at what is going on in the world around us locally and globally, we may be unintentionally holding onto negative emotions.
In a book, by Debbie Shapiro, “The Body Mind Workbook, Explaining How The Mind and Body Work Together,” she says that our eyes are the “Windows To The Soul” and also the “Windows To The World.” “The eyes are a deep expression of our inner being. They don’t just see outwards, but also reflect every emotion and feeling being experienced inwardly as well. They can focus on immediate reality, but also reflect our inward feelings at that time. “ Because the eyes can reflect what is going on in the body, the medical professionals developed a natural method to read the eyes called Iridology. A trained iridologist can decipher what is taking place in the body and different organs from the lines and markings in the eyes.
Vision problems are invariably connected to our interpretation of the world around us.
Some studies would suggest that near-sighted people can see what is directly in front of them, but are not quite able to see the larger picture. This can be a result of fear, trauma, or fear of the future.
Far-sighted people may like seeing the grander picture, with the great visions ahead, but have a more difficult time addressing up-front reality. They may be fearful of what the current time may present.
Blurred vision is us not meshing with the reality confronting us.
A medical eye doctor probably won’t ask you what type of emotional situation you may be experiencing in order to see what inner conflict might be manifesting itself as a basic problem in your vision challenge.
In lieu of taking time to ask some deeply insightful life questions, your busy eye doctor will most likely prescribe you a pair of glasses.
He studied eyesight and vision loss with emotional connections, and looked at vision problems as a concept of stress-related disorders.
Dr. Bates seemed to understand that the underlying cause of most vision problems was various forms of strain. He thought about 90% of vision problems could possibly be caused by mental strain and about 10% by physical strain.
Physical strain would be like squinting and staring. Mental strain would reflect psychological stress, worry, fear, or anxiety. He thought mental strain could cause the physical strain to manifest in vision challenges.
The “Perfect Sight Without Glasses” by William Bates MD, he addresses whether the only method of repairing vision problems was with glasses or could something else help restore someone’s vision naturally. The Bates Method introduced a method for people who wanted better vision without having to wear eyeglasses. His method is still being utilized today. One of the methods that Dr. Bates encourages is to do eye exercises to help restore your vision naturally.
In conclusion, as we embark on the coming year, and take better care of our health through diet and lifestyle, we can improve many of our health situations, including our vision, by eating nutrient-rich foods, getting lots of sunshine, managing our stress levels, and keeping our faith strong.
I look forward to seeing you healthier and more rejuvenated in this New Year!
Sources
1. “The vision loss from dry eye can be more profound than a person thinks,” Dr. Hardin says. “If left untreated, it can cause corneal scarring and permanent vision loss.” https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/six-causes-of-sudden-vision-loss/
2. Mercola, Joseph. (2002, January 30). “Vitamin B12: Are You Getting It?” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/01/30/vitamin-b12-part-three.aspx
3. Genetic and Dietary Factors Influencing the Progression of Nuclear Cataract, Volume 123, ISSUE 6, P1237-1244, June 01, 2016, https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(16)00114-7/fulltext
4. Vision and hypothalamus – https://www.academia.edu/40113697/Vision_and_the_hypothalamus
5. Hattersley, Joseph G. (2000). “The Negative Effects Of Chlorine.” The Journal Of Orthomolecular Medicine. Vol. 15, 2nd Quarter, 2000.
6. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 Apr; 8(4): 85. Published online 2019 Apr 2. doi: 10.3390/antiox8040085, PMCID: PMC6523787. PMID: 30986936, Nutrients for Prevention of Macular Degeneration and Eye-Related Diseases, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6523787/
7. Dr. William Bates. “Perfect Sight Without Glasses.” https://www.iblindness.org/ebooks/perfect-sight-without-glasses/
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Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email. |
