Being able to see is something that many of us tend to take for granted. But our eyes are just as subject to damage and disease as any other part of our bodies, especially as we age. From the stress of the modern-day workday to the cellular damage that our bodies go through as we grow older, there are many different factors that can stack up against your abilities to see clearly.
Luckily, healthy vision support can come from natural herbs that have been used in traditional medicinal practices for thousands of years, as well as essential nutrients that you can find in whole foods and supplements.
What Affects Your Vision?
It goes without saying: healthy eyes lead to healthy vision. Unfortunately, certain conditions can hurt your eye health and overall system, thus contributing to poorer vision over time.
Oxidative stress is thought to be a major cause for concern here. Your body contains numerous free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can damage your cells. In healthy circumstances, you also have enough antioxidants, whose jobs are to neutralize those free radicals and counter their damaging effects. Unfortunately, certain conditions like poor diet, exposure to toxins and pollution, and chronic stress can upset the balance and allow free radicals to damage your cells. This effect is thought to be responsible for aging and related conditions including several eye diseases.
Your vision is especially prone to damage as you age. For example, age-related macular degeneration, which can be influenced by factors relating to oxidative stress, is the leading cause of vision loss among older adults. Cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy follow close behind.
What’s worse, instances of adrenal fatigue affect vision as well. Exposure to constant stress (like staring at your work computer screen and stressing out for hours on end, every day, for example) takes a huge toll on our adrenal glands, the glands responsible for the production of important hormones like cortisol, the “stress hormone”. Without proper management of these stressors, this can lead to “adrenal fatigue,” a non-medical term that refers to your adrenal gland’s inability to keep up with the production of those necessary hormones. One symptom of this hormonal imbalance? Blurry vision.
But the good news is that you can be proactive about both age-related decline and adrenal fatigue. By leading a healthy lifestyle, prioritizing your diet, and supporting your overall health with the right herbs and nutrients, you can slow down the natural aging process, protect your body from stress, and fight back against cell damage, ultimately helping with vision enhancement.
Important Nutrients For Vision Support
Lutein
You may have heard people say that you should eat orange-colored fruits and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash for your eye -- as it turns out, this is widely due to the presence of lutein! Lutein is a carotenoid found naturally in your eyes, as well as in many plant-based foods (especially those with yellow and orange pigments) and in some animal products like egg yolk. This potent phytochemical is known to protect your eyes against instances of age-related macular degeneration.
Zeaxanthin
Zeaxanthin is another carotenoid found naturally in the structure of your retinas. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that can be found in a variety of plant-based foods. Together, both lutein and zeaxanthin can protect your eyes from damaging rays and are linked with better vision when levels of both are high!
L-taurine
Taurine is an amino acid, which means that it’s one of the “building blocks” of protein. More and more research is also suggesting that it may be a useful tool in the fight against retinal diseases! Studies suggest that it works by counteracting some of the harmful effects of oxidative stress, protecting your sensitive retinas from damage.
Quercetin
The flavonoid quercetin is so good for your eyes that it’s even being studied for potential uses as a treatment for various eye diseases like cataracts, dry eye disease, retinopathy, and conjunctivitis! This flavonoid, which is naturally found in plant-based foods, is thought to have many potential health benefits because of its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is perhaps one of the best-known antioxidant nutrients out there -- it’s a big reason why you might look for Vitamin C supplements when you’re trying to boost your immune system during cold and flu season! Those same antioxidant capabilities also make it useful for protecting your eye health. According to the American Optometric Association, adding ample amounts of Vitamin C to your diet may help protect your eyes from developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and visual acuity loss.
The Best Herbs For Vision Enhancement
Schisandra
Schisandra is a plant native to China whose berries have enjoyed a long history as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. One of its most important claims to fame comes from its antioxidant potential. Schisandra works as a powerful free radical scavenger, neutralizing potential damage especially as you age.
Red Sage
Most well-known for its potential neuroprotective and cardioprotective benefits, red sage (or Salvia miltiorrhiza or Danshen) has also been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to support healthy vision. Its powerful phytonutrients and ability to improve blood circulation have even led to the herb being studied for use in people with diabetic retinopathy.
Conclusion
No one can stop time or avoid stress altogether, but giving your body the right support in the form of healthy foods and supplements can help protect your eyes from damage and keep your vision as bright and clear as possible through all stages of your life.
If you’re looking for a way to protect your eyes and vision for the long haul, you can take a vision support supplement like VisionEssence™ Eye Support. This cutting-edge supplement combines the efficacy of powerful eye-boosting nutrients like Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Vitamin C, L-taurine, and Quercetin with time-tested traditional medicinal herbs for vision support including Schisandra and Red Sage. It’s backed by both modern science and ancient tradition!*