Probably everyone knows these...can they be called tips?
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Been squinting a lot lately? Have to move your magazine six inches away from your eyes to read it? Vision problems creep up on you as you age. But good habits - - not unlike the ones you've already established to protect your heart, bones, and brain - - can help keep your eyes healthy. Try these simple tips to safeguard your vision now and for years to come.
The 30s
Don't forget your shades. You need to fend off the sun's ultraviolet rays at every age. That's because UV rays can cause eye diseases, increased nearsighted*ness, and skin cancer around the eyes, says Alice Lyon, M.D., director of vitreoretinal service at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and ophthalmologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Wear sunglasses anytime you're outdoors or driving (keep a spare pair in your car), even if it's overcast -- UV rays can do harm when it's cloudy, too. Health.com: The best sunglasses for healthy eyes
Make over your workspace. Spending hours in front of a computer can cause tired, aching, and dry eyes, and possibly eyestrain headaches, according to the American Optometric Association. Avoid these woes by placing your monitor as far as possible from your eyes, but not so far that you have to squint.
Also, look away from the screen periodically to rest your eyes and change focus, and try a low-voltage floor lamp in place of bright overhead lights. An antiglare screen filter (available at most office-supply stores) may help, too.
The 40s
Work up a sweat. Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight help prevent diabetes, a chief cause of vision impairment that may lead to blindness.
The 50s plus
Eat your greens. Dark, leafy greens like spinach, collard greens, and kale contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which seem to lower the risk of AMD. Get plenty of these veggies, along with foods containing vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, and zinc, all shown to reduce the risk of vision loss. (As for vitamin supplements, recent evidence doesn't show a clear benefit, but more studies are underway.)
The omega-3s in fish like salmon or tuna may help, too, according to a recent review of studies. Aim for two servings a week. Health.com: How good fats can help you
Also, what you've always heard about carrots being good for your eyes is, in fact, true. One study found that women who ate more than two servings per week decreased their risk of glaucoma by 64 percent. Plus, the high levels of beta-carotene in carrots help preserve night vision.
If you wear sunglasses all of the time, it will block ultra violet rays that travel through the eyes to the pineal gland. Isn't the sun's rays the thing(s) that reset our pineal gland? Or maybe I'm thinking of something else.
If you wear sunglasses all of the time, it will block ultra violet rays that travel through the eyes to the pineal gland. Isn't the sun's rays the thing(s) that reset our pineal gland? Or maybe I'm thinking of something else.
Cookie, was interested in your post and researched a bit about the pineal gland. I agree that sunglasses should be worn most of the time, but not ALL the time.
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Sunlight has had a lot of bad press lately.
Too much can definitely be hazardous. Those who bathe in it for long hours without sunscreen protection increase their chances of developing skin cancer. Those who spend much time outdoors in blazing hot countries are at increased risk for cataracts (especially if they are also consuming a low protein diet). But there is another side to sunlight - one we often forget.
Every life form on this planet needs sunlight to survive. Man is no exception. Sunlight hitting the skin is converted (with the aid of cholesterol) into vitamin D. This vitamin is required to mineralize bones and teeth, to form certain enzymes, and to produce specific forms of ribonucleic acid (RNA). Vitamin D supplements are available for those who do not get enough exposure to sunlight. But sunlight does more for us than just produce vitamin D.
We have a very important gland that requires light in order to function properly. That gland is the pineal, a tiny pea-shaped structure within the brain. Its secretions are greatly influenced by light that fall, on the forehead and eyes. There is no dietary supplement. However that can substitute for this response to light.
The pineal gland is incredibly important. It influences sex organs and bodily development. It inhibits the excess production of hormones by other endocrine glands and can retard the growth of both malignant and benign tumours. The pineal secretes melatonin, seratonin, pinealin, lysine vasopressin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and histamine. These substances have many, many functions - including helping to regulate blood sugar levels, influencing adrenal hormones, protecting the pancreas from oxidative damage, and helping to control fluid retention. Scientists have not yet discovered all there is to know about the pineal.
Canadians are deprived of sun- light for much of the year. 1n some areas smog and pollution reduce available sunlight. Many of us are too busy working indoors to enjoy those rare sunny days. On the whole, Canadians probably err on the side of too little sunlight rather than too much. Somehow we need to find a balance.
If the pineal gland does not have adequate sunlight, it will try to make do with whatever it can get. Artificial, indoor lighting provides only a small portion of the wavelengths of light that the sun does. The missing wavelengths make a difference to our health.
Many Canadians, starting in October, suffer from the winter �blues" also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Possible symptoms may include some of the following: low energy, fatigue, low sexual desire, lethargy, sadness, irritability, anxiety, increased sleep or poor sleep, daytime drowsiness, carbohydrate cravings, weight gain, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, diminished ability to concentrate, physical agitation, arthritic-like pains and difficulty in getting along with others. These symptoms disappear in the spring, upon adequate continuing exposure to sunlight.
It is now possible to bring sunlight indoors, so to speak. Full spectrum indoor lighting is available. These special fluorescent lamps approximate the total wavelengths of sunlight. Exposure to them for two or more hours per day can often reverse the symptoms of SAD within a few days.
Even if you are not affected by winter depression, your health may benefit in other ways from full spectrum lighting. Such lighting has been found to reduce hyperactivity- in children, to improve productivity and reduce absenteeism in the workplace, and to improve calcium absorption. It can also reduce eye strain, especially from television and computer screens. People who use full spectrum lighting report that they feel more alert, more energetic and healthier.
The ideal way to obtain the health benefits of sunlight is directly from the source. Each day, spend at least 20 minutes outdoors (preferably before 10 AM or after 4 PM), without eyeglasses or sunglasses. With your eyes closed. aim your forehead and eyes toward the sun. If this kind of access to the Sun is not possible, then indoor full spectrum lighting is your next best alternative.
SUN THERAPY
Every day from sun rise to 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. to sun set go outside and lay in the sun. Let the sun shine on your bare skin, also, open your eyes and look at the sun for a second. Close your eyes and let the sun shine through your eyelids. You will see all different colors and when the colors fade open your eyes again, look at the sun, close your eyes and let the sun shine through your eyelids again. Repeat the above 40 � 50 times. Remove your glasses or contact lenses. If it is too cold and you can not lay in the sun just look at the sun. When the sun shines through your eyelids and shines on your body you will absorb all the minerals. You do not sunburn or tan before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. this is when the sun has a perfect color spectrum. It is only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the ultra violet rays are to high, that is when it is harmful to the body.
SCHAFER�S HEALTH CENTRE LTD.
Box 251
Unity, Sask. SOK 4L0
Telephone: (306) 228-2512
__________________ "In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia" ~Charles A. Lindberg~
Easy ways to protect your eyes
Sunlight is good in moderation
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