The eyes are actually the mirror of our general health. Today, we are going to show you 14 things that your own eyes can tell about your health.
Here they are:
- DISAPPEARING EYEBROWS
If one-third of your eyebrow falls out, it could indicate thyroid disease.
- A STY THAT JUST WON’T GO AWAY
In case the sty doesn’t go away for more than 3 months or it keeps re-occurring at the same location, it is possible that you suffer from rare cancer that is called sebaceous gland carcinoma.
- BURNING EYES, BLURRY VISION WHILE USING A COMPUTER
Not enough contrast on a computer screen combined with extra work can lead to eyestrain, which then can lead to the development of a ‘computer vision syndrome’ (CVS).
- A SMALL BLIND SPOT IN THE VISION, WITH SHIMMERING LIGHTS OR A WAVY LINE
Migraine aura very often causes disturbed vision that may or may not be followed by a headache.
- EYES THAT SEEM TO BULGE
The protruding eyes can be mostly caused by the overactive thyroid gland, known as hyperthyroidism.
- WHITES OF THE EYE HAVE TURNED YELLOWISH
Jaundice is the common name for this eye condition. Mainly it affects newborns with an immature liver function but also affects persons suffering from bile ducts, gallbladder, and liver issues.
- SUDDEN DIM VISION, DOUBLE VISION, OR LOSS OF VISION
Double vision, dim vision, and loss of vision are warning signs of a stroke.
- BLURRED VISION IN A DIABETIC
Diabetics are more disposed to eye problems, especially to diabetic retinopathy, when the circulatory system of the eyes is affected by this disease. This issue is the leading cause of blindness in many American adults.
The eyesight is one of our most precious senses. If you don’t care much about your eyes and take these signs for granted, you might be at an increased risk of blindness. Do you know that 1 in 4 Americans are either pre-diabetic or diabetic?
The increased usage of computers and video display terminals are the major culprits for the prevalence of vision issues.
IS THE POOR VISION INEVITABLE AS YOU AGE?
If you are not careful enough, the modern lifestyle might take its toll and contribute to a poor vision. Fortunately, there are a lot of preventive measures available that can help you maintain a good vision. For instance, persons over the age of 60 should take high-quality nutritional supplements and additional vision support. Those people who must take some additional vision support are:
- Diabetics
- Smokers
- Obese people
- Persons spending a lot of time staring at a computer
Iridology—The Eyes as the Mirrors of Your Health?
There is also a study regarding this topic, that has used an alternative technique called iridology, and it studies the iris of the eye. This study dates from the mid-XVII century, however, the mainstream medicine hasn’t accepted it yet.
The technique enables various characteristics of the iris zone, such as patterns and colors which tell a lot about systemic health. This could be done by eliminating the iris and matching it to iris charts. These charts will let the iridologist identify systems and organs into the body which might be inflamed.
In case you decide to try this technique, you should first visit a licensed medical practitioner since iridologists are not obliged to have a license.
Natural, Common-Sense Strategies to Help Protect Healthy Vision
A few lifestyle changes are the best way to protect our vision. These are the common-sense strategies that can help you help maintain a healthy vision:
The first thing you should do is to immediately quit smoking as since smoking increases the production of the free radicals, which in turn increases the risk of decreased vision.
- Normalize Your Blood Sugar Levels
Hindered ability to focus the excessive sugar in the blood pulls out the fluid from the lens of your eyes. That is why the blood vessels in the retina might be damaged and the blood flow might be restricted.
- Take Care of The Cardiovascular System
The obstructed blood flow and the high blood pressure negatively affect the minuscule blood vessels on the retina. You need to avoid fructose at any cost in order to maintain healthy blood pressure. As was found in research conducted by Dr. Richard Johnson, who is the leader of the division of kidney disease and hypertension at the University of Colorado, by consuming 74 grams fructose on a daily basis you are increasing the risk of having high blood pressure.
- Eat Plenty of Fresh Dark Leafy Greens
A diet that is high in dark leafy greens supports eye health. It was shown that consuming carotenoid-rich veggies and vegetables high in lutein and zeaxanthin, improves vision health.
- Get A Lot of Omega-3 Fats
One study that was published in August 2001 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology revealed that consuming omega-3 fats can protect your vision. The fish is no longer the best source of these acids as a consequence of the increased pollution. It’s better to consume krill oil which is also abundant in astaxanthin.
- Avoid Aspartame
Aspartame poisoning is one of the main causes of vision issues.
- Avoid Trans Fats
It was found that trans-fats contribute to macular degeneration. They can be found in numerous processed foods and baked goods, like doughnuts, cookies, pastries, crackers, fried foods, fried chicken, etc.
Antioxidants—Your Greatest Allies for Healthy Eyes
Antioxidants are neutralizing the free radicals in your body, including those in the eyes. Some of the major eye-friendly antioxidants are the following:
- Zeaxanthin
- Lutein
- Astaxanthin
- Black currant anthocyanins
Lutein Helps To Protect Your Central Vision
Zeaxanthin and Lutein are in the macula lutea. These antioxidants are absorbing the excess photon energy and destroy the free radicals if they are in big concentrations just before they get the chance to damage the lipid membranes.
A tiny central part of the retina, which is called the macula, is responsible for the straight-ahead vision. It contains high concentrations of lutein that were shown to protect the central vision. Lutein can be found in yellow and orange fruits as well as in green leafy vegetables.
ASTAXANTHIN—A POWERFUL PROTECTION AGAINST THE TWO LEADING FORMS OF BLINDNESS
As it was found in scientific research, astaxanthin is the ultimate carotenoid for eye health as well as the ultimate preventive measure for blindness. However, we cannot ignore the benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin.
Astaxanthin is more powerful than both zeaxanthin and lutein and it works as a preventive measure against the following eye-related problems:
- Retinal arterial occlusion
- Venous occlusion
- Inflammatory eye diseases (retinitis, iritis, scleritis, and keratitis)
- Cystoid macular edema
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)
This list encloses the 3 leading causes of blindness: macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, which makes this antioxidant of extreme importance.
There are also a lot of other sources of astaxanthin, like supplements specifically designed to support optimal eye health.
In case you decide to try astaxanthin, you should start with 2-4 mg on a daily basis. Also, you need to check the label of every krill oil supplement because not all types have the same concentration of astaxanthin.
Final Thoughts
Every day, we are exposed to higher levels of oxidation if compared to our ancestors. The environment in which we live now is heavily contaminated. We are all aware that the depletion of the ozone layer is causing stronger sunlight, directly exposing our eyes to more free radicals.
What also negatively affects our body`s organs, including our eyes is the pollution, the contaminants in our food and water, pharmaceutical drugs, and high-stress levels.