By Larry Oz
Age-related macular deterioration affects the part of the eye responsible for central vision, leading to progressive visual loss and doing every day tasks like recognizing faces, reading, driving and doing detailed work difficult. You are more likely to develop the disease in case you have a family member with this condition, are a smoker, have light colored eyes, are older, are female, or have heart disease. The antioxidant nutrients vitamin C, beta-carotene, zinc, lutein, and vitamin E hold promise for halting the progression of early macular degeneration.
A healthy eating habits could be the most important aspect in building, supporting, maintaining, and also improving vision. Although there is no single diet that is perfect for everyone, specialists agree with the fact that a healthy diet high in vegetables is essential for eye wellness. Choose to help make each meal an opportunity for enjoying more vegetables (preferably organic). Steam, stir fry, or simply eat them raw.
In a perfect world, we would get all of our vitamins from food. On the other hand, advanced farming methods and the depletion of nutrients in soil often results in fruit and vegetables having drastically less minerals and vitamins than they used to, when everything was 'organic'. Foods sold and labeled as organic nowadays have a tendency to have more iron,vitamin C, phosphorus and magnesium and less of the harmful nitrates and other residues from pesticides.
However, not everybody has all set access to organic food, or the money to buy it for the whole family. Hence, vitamin supplements are a great choice to help us get our missing nutrients.
Here is a list of the top 6 phytonutrients ,vitamins and herbs to help alleviate the problem of dry eyes, sore and sustain good vision:
1. Bilberry - is a herb used for both gastrointestinal and eye health. The productive ingredients are called anthocyanosides, which are a type of flavanoid. Anthocyanosides are antioxidants that help improve the flow of blood through the capillaries in eyes. They help eyes adjust quickly to variations in light, and enhance sharpness of vision.
Bilberry has also been presented to be helpful in stopping the development of cataracts when consumed with vitamin E. It is also used to treat diabetic retinopathy, and macular weakening.
2. Vitamin A - Vitamin A is important for good night vision, and may perform a role in stopping cataracts.
3. Grapeseed - Grapeseed is great for the peripheral circulation in our eyes. It also strengthens the capillaries.
4. Eyebright - Eyebright makes a great eye home solution. Steep it in hot water to let the herb infuse, then get rid of the herb and cool the excess liquid. You could place it in the freezer to cool it down easily if you don't have any infused eyebright on hand in the fridge. Once its cool, use it as an eye bath, or a compress. It is great for sore eyes, and has an anti-inflammatory and soothing action.
5. Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Study from Harvard Medical school has found that taking omega 3 oils minimizes the possibility of getting dry eyes. Try taking 3 to 6 grams of a great quality fish oil supplement daily. Researches showed that eating more long chain omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a drastically lower risk of macular weakening amongst people with a lower-than-average consumption of linoleic acid (an omega-6 found primarily in nut and seed oils). Those who ate one to two servings of nuts each week lowered their macular degeneration risk by 35%.
6. Lutein - Lutein is one illustration of a kind of plant nutrient known as carotenoids. Better known examples add beta carotene and alpha carotene. Carotenoids are liable for giving fruit and vegetables their unique colors, and the brightness of a fruit or vegetable is a good sign of how much carotenoids it has in it. Those with a rich color have a higher concentration.
Lutein, beta, and alpha carotene are converted by the body into vitamin A. And lutein is discovered in very high concentrations in the macula of the eye. Lutein is used to help prevent macular degeneration, which is a big problem for people over 40 years of age. Macular degeneration can lead to blindness. Lutein is thought to work as an antioxidant in this capacity.
Other solutions for dry eyes add soaking chamomile tea bags and putting them on both eyes when they're cool. Chamomile helps reduce redness and swelling around the eye. Iced milk can also be used on a shrink for sore eyes. Soak cotton wool or gauze pads with very cold milk (the coolness helps narrow blood vessels), and the fat in milk is very soothing for dry skin.
Get a lot of dark, green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, collards and chard in your body. Beyond dark greens, go for colored vegetables, including carrots (orange), squash (yellow), beets (red), and red cabbage (purple). Colors indicate phytonutrients, numerous of which are antioxidants and eye-specific nutrients in a position of supplying super nutrition for your eyes. Fruits can help vision, too. Select dark fruits that are high in antioxidants like blueberries and blackberries, as well as dried fruits like raisins and prunes.
Drink carrot juice and fresh organic vegetable juices:
You likely have heard that carrot juice is great for the eyes. Carrot juice works extremely well for this purpose, partly by supplying large amounts of provitamin-A beta-carotene. Get a quality juicer and make at least 16 oz of juice every day. While you are making carrot juice why not add some spinach leaves, beets, celery stalks, parsley greens, or cucumber pieces into the mix?
Fresh vegetable juices truly are the #1 way to improve vision. After my 5 day juice fast my vision improved so much that I was able to stop wearing glasses and used just reading glasses sometimes.
Superfoods for stronger vision:
For boosting core nutrition that helps superb vision, the best foods are superfoods. Superfoods add goji berries, chlorella, spirulina, nutritional yeast, chia seeds, and other foods. Superfoods provide greater quantities of nutrients than are typically found in foods. For example, chlorella provides a large amount of chlorophyll, but also offers essential fats, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), and vitamins.
As always please check with your physician before adding or changing anything that might have an effect on your current treatment.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Apricot Nutrition Information
September 11, 2010
If you’re wondering about whether apricot nutrition makes these fruits a good choice to include in your diet, you’ll find that apricots are loaded with helpful nutrients and beneficial ingredients to keep you healthy. Although apricots are now spread throughout the world and are common in the United States, they weren’t actually introduced to the United States and the western world until the 18th century.
Apricots originally developed as a cousin of peaches in the mountains of China. They have been around for thousands of years in Asia and parts of the Middle East, and have long been touted in those areas for their helpful health benefits. In addition to being light on sugar and calories, apricots have a great load of nutrients that will help to promote good health overall. Read on for a brief description of apricot nutrition information.
Beta Carotene
One of the best parts of apricots is that they are high in beta carotene. This relatively uncommon nutrient is found in fruits and vegetables that are yellow or orange in color, and most commonly in carrots. Due to its relative obscurity, it can be difficult to make adequate use of this nutrient in your diet. Fortunately, however, apricots are rich in beta carotene. Beta carotene has a number of different benefits.It helps to promote healthy eyes and can delay the effects of macular degeneration, cataracts, and other issues that may develop. It has also been shown to slightly improve night vision as well. Also, beta carotene helps to keep your skin smooth and free of oil, and it may also promote good hair quality too. This makes beta carotene an excellent nutrient not only for the way that your body works, but also for your appearance as well.
Fiber
Apricots contain a good amount of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is helpful in regulating a number of processes throughout the body. Namely, it can helpt o keep your bowel system moving as it should. It also helps to clear out your lower intestines and colon of any materials that may have become attached to the walls, thereby preventing polyp formation, cancer and other potentially serious conditions.
Potassium
Apricots are also rich in potassium. A single apricot contains a bulk of your day’s worth of potassium, in most cases. Potassium is useful for a number of different bodily systems and functions, and it’s oftentimes difficult to find this mineral in different fruits and vegetables. This is yet another reason why apricots are a beneficial addition to virtually any diet and should be eaten regularly by everyone.
Apricots are low in sugar, and the sugar that they do contain is natural and unprocessed, making it easier for your body to digest. Furthermore, apricots contain no sodium and no fat. For this reason, they can safely be included in a diet without running the risk of causing you to gain additional weight, when they’re eaten in proper portions.
If you’re wondering about whether apricot nutrition makes these fruits a good choice to include in your diet, you’ll find that apricots are loaded with helpful nutrients and beneficial ingredients to keep you healthy. Although apricots are now spread throughout the world and are common in the United States, they weren’t actually introduced to the United States and the western world until the 18th century.
Apricots originally developed as a cousin of peaches in the mountains of China. They have been around for thousands of years in Asia and parts of the Middle East, and have long been touted in those areas for their helpful health benefits. In addition to being light on sugar and calories, apricots have a great load of nutrients that will help to promote good health overall. Read on for a brief description of apricot nutrition information.
Beta Carotene
One of the best parts of apricots is that they are high in beta carotene. This relatively uncommon nutrient is found in fruits and vegetables that are yellow or orange in color, and most commonly in carrots. Due to its relative obscurity, it can be difficult to make adequate use of this nutrient in your diet. Fortunately, however, apricots are rich in beta carotene. Beta carotene has a number of different benefits.It helps to promote healthy eyes and can delay the effects of macular degeneration, cataracts, and other issues that may develop. It has also been shown to slightly improve night vision as well. Also, beta carotene helps to keep your skin smooth and free of oil, and it may also promote good hair quality too. This makes beta carotene an excellent nutrient not only for the way that your body works, but also for your appearance as well.
Fiber
Apricots contain a good amount of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is helpful in regulating a number of processes throughout the body. Namely, it can helpt o keep your bowel system moving as it should. It also helps to clear out your lower intestines and colon of any materials that may have become attached to the walls, thereby preventing polyp formation, cancer and other potentially serious conditions.
Potassium
Apricots are also rich in potassium. A single apricot contains a bulk of your day’s worth of potassium, in most cases. Potassium is useful for a number of different bodily systems and functions, and it’s oftentimes difficult to find this mineral in different fruits and vegetables. This is yet another reason why apricots are a beneficial addition to virtually any diet and should be eaten regularly by everyone.
Apricots are low in sugar, and the sugar that they do contain is natural and unprocessed, making it easier for your body to digest. Furthermore, apricots contain no sodium and no fat. For this reason, they can safely be included in a diet without running the risk of causing you to gain additional weight, when they’re eaten in proper portions.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Nutrition is Closely Interrelated to Preventive Eye Care
Sep 3, 2010
By Eye Care
The eye performs the function of sensing light and transmitting the signals through the optic nerves to the brain. The brain registers the images and acts accordingly. The importance of this organ can never be overstated. When dealing with an organ as sensitive and as important as the eye, preventive eye care is always better than remedial eye cure.
Proper and timely eye care blunts macular degeneration, which is a harmful consequence of the natural process of aging. A simple habit of visiting the doctor periodically for a check up of the eyes helps a lot in preventing eye problems.
Nutrition and eye care is closely interrelated. Good food rich in vitamin A, E etc will protect you from eye problems. In this regard, it is pertinent to remember that:
• Carrot is a rich source of vitamin A
• Spinach is a rich source of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant. It slows the onset of macular degeneration and deterioration of eyesight.
• Vitamin E and Vitamin C strengthens connective tissues in the eye and thereby contributes to the eye health.
• Zinc and other such minerals are good for the eye. Omega-3 fatty acids, which is present in fish oil, reduces macular degeneration of nerve cells. It too contributes to ocular health.
• Aloe vera is rich in ambrotose. As a nutritional supplement, it prevents eye infections and improves immunity.
• Red Blood Cells are vital for the eyes as it ensures proper functioning of the brain and the nervous system. Vitamin B-12 is beneficial in this regard.
• Bilberry extract, aspalathus and mahonia grape extract are herbs that are beneficial for the eye. Bilberry is good for optic nerves and night vision. Aspalathus aids immunity and ocular health, as it is rich in antioxidants. Mahonia extract is good for the retina.
Just as physical exercises for the body keeps it fit and healthy, exercises for the eye improves overall eye health and eyesight. Regular exercises for the eye are a must.
• Strengthen eye muscles by alternatively concentrating on a tip of pencil placed a foot away and another farther object using just one eye.
• Deliberately blink 15 times in a minute to keep your eye clean, lubricated and tension free.
• Cure tunnel vision by training the mind to be aware of the complete scene. This helps in increasing awareness of peripheral images.
• Rapidly flutter blink for at least 25 times in a day.
You should take special care of your eyes if your answer to any of the following questions is in affirmative:
• Do you watch television for long periods sitting close to the TV? Is this true for your children?
• Does your computer monitor have an UV filter? Do you let children use such monitors?
• Are you a welder? Does your work other wise expose you to powerful UV radiation? Do you use proper safety goggles?
• Do you use sunglasses when you go out in the sun? Do you protect your eyes from harmful UV rays of the sun?
• Are you a chemist who experiments in laboratories? Are you otherwise exposed to UV light? Do you use protective equipment?
By Eye Care
The eye performs the function of sensing light and transmitting the signals through the optic nerves to the brain. The brain registers the images and acts accordingly. The importance of this organ can never be overstated. When dealing with an organ as sensitive and as important as the eye, preventive eye care is always better than remedial eye cure.
Proper and timely eye care blunts macular degeneration, which is a harmful consequence of the natural process of aging. A simple habit of visiting the doctor periodically for a check up of the eyes helps a lot in preventing eye problems.
Nutrition and eye care is closely interrelated. Good food rich in vitamin A, E etc will protect you from eye problems. In this regard, it is pertinent to remember that:
• Carrot is a rich source of vitamin A
• Spinach is a rich source of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant. It slows the onset of macular degeneration and deterioration of eyesight.
• Vitamin E and Vitamin C strengthens connective tissues in the eye and thereby contributes to the eye health.
• Zinc and other such minerals are good for the eye. Omega-3 fatty acids, which is present in fish oil, reduces macular degeneration of nerve cells. It too contributes to ocular health.
• Aloe vera is rich in ambrotose. As a nutritional supplement, it prevents eye infections and improves immunity.
• Red Blood Cells are vital for the eyes as it ensures proper functioning of the brain and the nervous system. Vitamin B-12 is beneficial in this regard.
• Bilberry extract, aspalathus and mahonia grape extract are herbs that are beneficial for the eye. Bilberry is good for optic nerves and night vision. Aspalathus aids immunity and ocular health, as it is rich in antioxidants. Mahonia extract is good for the retina.
Just as physical exercises for the body keeps it fit and healthy, exercises for the eye improves overall eye health and eyesight. Regular exercises for the eye are a must.
• Strengthen eye muscles by alternatively concentrating on a tip of pencil placed a foot away and another farther object using just one eye.
• Deliberately blink 15 times in a minute to keep your eye clean, lubricated and tension free.
• Cure tunnel vision by training the mind to be aware of the complete scene. This helps in increasing awareness of peripheral images.
• Rapidly flutter blink for at least 25 times in a day.
You should take special care of your eyes if your answer to any of the following questions is in affirmative:
• Do you watch television for long periods sitting close to the TV? Is this true for your children?
• Does your computer monitor have an UV filter? Do you let children use such monitors?
• Are you a welder? Does your work other wise expose you to powerful UV radiation? Do you use proper safety goggles?
• Do you use sunglasses when you go out in the sun? Do you protect your eyes from harmful UV rays of the sun?
• Are you a chemist who experiments in laboratories? Are you otherwise exposed to UV light? Do you use protective equipment?
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