#323 | MM - Healthy Eyes & Clear Vision

As with anything else in the body, the health of the eyes depends upon circulation and vascular health to deliver nutrients and remove waste/toxicity.

When it comes to eye health there are many important considerations to maintain optimal vision and prevent or reverse eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, etc.

In this Medicinal Monday episode as we Alter Your Health from Head to Toe we discuss some anatomy and physiology of the eye which helps us to understand how we can eat and live in a way to optimize eye health and function.

There is SO much research that supports the benefits of increasing consumption of nutrient-dense whole plant foods and lowering toxic load, cholesterol, and saturated fats from diet. Additionally, we share some other helpful lifestyle considerations including hydrotherapy and "eye exercises" that promote health at any point in life.

Of course, when it comes to eyes, there are many genetic and anatomical variations that exist between people leading to myopia (near-sighted), hyperopia (far-sighted), and astigmatism (variation of eye curvature). These refractive issues are generally corrected with glasses, lenses, or surgery such as LASIK or PRK. These common conditions are not the subject of today's episode.

As always, you can join us live each Monday at 12 PT / 3 ET on the Alter Health YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/alterhealth

Some highlights from today's episode on EYES...

• Eyes are actually extension of the brain - the optic nerve that decodes the signals detected by "rod" and "cone" photoreceptors on the retina
• When we look at the retina during an ophthalmic exam we are able to directly see the blood vessels that make up the microvascular system in the eye
• Diabetes (insulin resistance), high cholesterol, and high blood pressure can all cause "retinopathy" which causes the damage of retinal tissue in the eye over time leading to conditions like age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma
• Cataracts are opacities in the lens of the eye generally caused by eye trauma, oxidative injury (excessive UV light), or nutritional deficiency (antioxidants like vit C)
• Numerous phytonutrients (nutrients from PLANTS) have been proven to protect against eye diseases such as Vit C, Vit E, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and more
• There are basic "eye exercises" to support eye health such as regularly shifting from up-close vision (screens!) to more expansive panoramic vision (nature!) as well as generally tracking objects up close and far away (playing catch, watching birds fly, tracking objects in nature, etc)

Links to some more good stuff
-  Join Alter Health on Locals: https://alterhealth.locals.com/
- Cleanse with Us during the next Alter Health Cleanse: https://www.alter.health/cleanse
- Work with us in the Thrive on Plants program: https://www.alter.health/thrive-on-plants
- ATTN Health Practitioners! Learn more and apply to the Plant Based Mind Body Practitioner Program: https://www.alter.health/pbmb-practitioner

Peace and Love.