While I was healing from my accident this summer, my 92-year old mother lost her sight. This has been a major adjustment in her life, especially considering she had done Tai Chi, daily brain exercises on the computer, and her own grocery shopping. This has led me to look (no pun intended) at how I am caring for my eyes, since I plan to live to be a centurion!

We often tend to focus on the symptoms to maintain our health. While it is necessary to treat symptoms, it would be even better if we did not have any symptoms to begin with. Have you considered preventative nutrition for your eyes? 

A study by the Harvard School of Public Health examined the diets of 50,000 (yes, 50,000!) nurses. It found that women with the highest beta-carotene and vitamin A intake had a 39% lower risk of developing cataracts severe enough to require surgery.

Our bodies convert beta-carotene to vitamin A, which is then sent to the eyes and converted into a substance called retinol. Retinol is required for the chemical electrical reaction to occur that allows the eyes to see.

In order to get the necessary nutrients, eat carrots (organic are best) and organic foods high in lutein and zeaxamthin (anti-oxidant compounds), found in spinach, apricots, asparagus, broccoli, and all the orange autumn vegetables coming into season now. If you would like an information sheet on Vitamin A, please email me.

All of the anti-oxidants are beneficial to the eyes. Zinc is also essential to eye health because it helps prevent or slow the development of cataracts, and zinc also delays age-related macular degeneration. Zinc is not a maintenance supplement unless it is needed. I test for Zinc deficiencies, so make sure to ask for your Zinc test at your next office visit. 

Does your diet consist of all the essential vegetables listed above? If not, then order Optic Plus, a Biotics product that ensures proper nutrition for eye health. See the Biotics web store on my website.