Eyes have been called the "windows to the world". They have been referred to as the "windows to the heart": But did you know they are also the "windows to your health"? There are so many indicators of your health that can be revealed through an examination of your eyes. and, oftentimes, can be seen in the eye before anywhere else.
Windows to Your Health: What Your Eyes Reveal
- Brain tissue: the "retina" is an extension of the brain .... what happens to one affects the other
- Blood vessels and neurons: only place in the body where both can be directly visualized
- includes the nerve that connects to the brain
- red blood cells moving through capillaries
- changes in blood vessels can be indicative of a tumor or stroke
- Genetic Syndromes: more than 1/3 involve the eye
- Nutritional deficiencies: nerve damage in back of eye indicates Vitamin B complex deficiency
- Inflammation in eye is an indicator of inflammation in the body
- High blood pressure: indicated by small, microscopic spots of blood on sclera 6 out of 10 times
- High cholesterol: blue or yellow ring around the cornea or deposits in retina's blood vessels
- Stress: causes cells behind the eye to start leaking fluid similar to a blister on the retina
- Major eye diseases: glaucoma, cataract, age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
How your brain processes vision: Your eyes contain color pigments. These color pigments translate information received
into electrical signals which, then, run through optial nerves into the back of the brain. This is how the brain processes vision. The problem, however, is that these color pigments need to be constantly renewed and ANY "blue light" is damaging as it can reach the "macula" causing the color pigments to slow or stop regenerating.
Benefits of "Blue Light"
- Helps with "natural sleep/wake cycles" by regulating circadian rhythm
- Boosts alertness
- Helps memory/cognitive functions
- Elevates moods: think a day at the beach 😊
Unfortunately, the dangers of too much blue light far outway the benefits. Using digital devices for more than 2 hours per day has a "blue light exposure effect" on an average of 1 out of 3 adults:
- eye strain
- dry eye
- headache
- blurred vision
- neck and shoulder pain
Approximately, 10-15% of children suffer with:
- eye strain, dry or irritated eyes
- reduced attention span
- poor behavior and aggressions
- headache
- neck and shoulder pain
Dangers of Too Much "Blue Light"
- Eye strain, fatigue, blurry vision
- Headaches/migraines
- Memory/concentration problems
- Sleep problems: interrupts melatonin secretion
- Increased rick of cancers
- Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity
- Increased risk of depression > eat more sugars = increased diseases (domino effect)
- Permanent eye damage > cataracts, age-related macular degeneration
- Blindness
How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
- Sun exposure: 20% of blue light including UVB and UVA
- wear sunglasses
- wear hats (cowboy hats provide the best protection)
- Technology: 80% of blue light .... light bulbs, computers, laptops, iPads, cell phones, TV screens
- add blue light screen protectors
- set screen to "night vision"
- use "blue light" glasses
- Increase "antioxidants"
- Decrease artificial light exposure
- Don't sleep with phone next to bed or under pillow
- Dietary supplements with "lutein" and "zeaxanthin"
- nature's filters for blue light
- out of 700 carotinoids these are the only 2 that reach the back of the eye to reduce exposure of retina to blue light damage
- color pigments can regenerate helping the eyes to function normally
- reduction in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts
- enhances cognitive function in young people
- better spatial memory
- increased reasoning ability
- increased complex attention
- enhances cognitive function in regular and older adults
- increased flexibility and memory
- increased functional execution
- increased macular pigment optical density (MPOD) significantly associated with:
- overall cognition
- verbal learning
- memory and recall
- perception
- processing speed of brain
- great for skin care
- incorporate dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin into diet
- basil, parsley
- spinach, kale, leak, lettuce
- peas, broccoli, avocados
- corn tortillas and corn chips
- egg yolk
- wolfberries (11 times more zeaxanthin than egg yolk)
- pistachios
- Einkorn products (highest amounts of lutein of all wheat species)
- promotes brain, eye and skin health
- today's wheat is lowest concentration of lutein
Unfortunately, the typical Standard American Diet (SAD) provides only 1-3 mg per day of lutein and zeaxanthin combined. A minimum of 6 mg per day combined to "start" decreasing the risk of getting AMD. There are many companies offering lutein and zeaxanthin products but this is the one I prefer:
- created according to latest scientific research
- created to support eye health and improve visual performance
- one capsule provides 20 mg lutein and 4 mg zeaxanthin (24 mg total) from Marigold flowers
- contains wolfberry powder (11 times more zeaxanthin than egg yolks)
- excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E
- protects eyes from damaging blue light*
- improves visual performance*
- helps protect and maintain proper eye health*
- helps support photoreceptor recovery*
- helps support vision in low-light settings*
- helps prevent night blindness*
- helps reduce eye fatigue and eye strain*
- increases macular pigment optical density*
- may help reduce eye health deterioration common with age*
- maintains healthy-looking skin*
- helps support skin strength and durability*
- contains no synthetic ingredients or artificial colors
- vegetarian friendly
- capsule: purple carrot concentrate (high in luteins)
With increased use of electronic devices comes an increased exposure to blue light and it's risks. Even with the best intentions, food alone will not provide all the blue light filtering protection that this increased exposure requires. You only have one set of eyes. Don't you want to do all you can to protect them? Afterall, they are the "windows to your health".
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Young Living products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
