Natural Cures Not Medicine: eye health

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Showing posts with label eye health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eye health. Show all posts

Is Your Computer Screen Damaging Your Eyes?

In today's world many of us spend 10-12 hours of our day in front of glowing computer screens. Computers are used for doing almost everything, they improve productivity by making complex calculations simple, but have your wondered if staring at the screen for long periods of time can significantly damage your eyes? When we look at the computer screens for long periods it can cause pain and strain to your eyes which in some cases may become Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).


CVS is not a single specific eye disorder, its a group of eye-related problems including strain ad pain in eyes. Statistics show between 50-90% of computer users experience some kind of eye problem. Working adults are not the only ones who are prone to this problem. Kids who play video games on computers, especially games that require high concentration, are liked to experience eye-related problems.

Research shows people who use computers a lot have little to no difficulty focusing on things near to them, however far sight becomes blurry.

The most common symptoms of CVS are redness in eyes, irritation or dryness, burning sensation in the eyes, double or blurred vision, shoulder and neck pain, and headache.

While we cannot avoid looking at computer screens, here are some guidelines that can be effective in avoiding the symptoms of CVS.


1.) Get your eyes checked regularly

We often tend to ignore headaches and strain in our eyes which is an unhealthy practice. If you feel any symptoms of CVS post prolonged exposure to a computer screen, have your eyes examined by an eye specialist to check what is best for your eyes.

2.) Adjust the computer

The screen of your computer should neither be too close nor too far from your eyes. The ideal distance between your eyes and the screen should be an arm's distance. Place your monitor so that its center lies 4-8 inches below your eyes. Doing this will allow your neck to relax while you read or type something.

3.) Rest your eyes regularly

When you are working on a computer its important to rest your eyes periodically. Take a break every 20 minutes and look at and focus on something far from you. Do no keep your eyes too close to the monitor and stretch your back and neck regularly. It your eyes are feeling excessive fatigue, try to avoid looking at the computer and take a breather.

4.) Blink more

Various studies show that as we work on computers we reduce our blink rate which causes problems like dry eyes, burning sensation, and the sensation of gritty eyes. Our average blink rate is 12 blinks per minute. Statistics show that while using computers this rate goes down to 5 blinks per minute. Lower blink rate leads to dehydration of the cornea which causes dry eyes. Blinking more improves focus along with reduction in pain.

5.) Wash your eyes

If your eyes are red and feel strained wash you eyes with fresh water. Doing this will eradicate all the dirt from your eyes and cool them off. It will also hydrate your eyes which will take away fatigue and make you feel re-energized.

6.) Proper lighting

Proper lighting also influences the pain that our eyes bear wen we work in front of screens. Its recommended to have a light source behind you when you work., Light should not be too dim while your work. Placing light right in front of your computer or bright overhead lighting adds to the strain. 

Source: PositiveMed

Organic Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Recipe

It's pumpkin season and what better to celebrate than a healthy twist on pumpkin pie?! This smoothie tastes exactly like chilled pumpkin pie in a glass, but without all the added saturated fat and refined sugar that most conventional pumpkin pies are stuffed with. This thick and creamy smoothie makes a delicious filling breakfast or mid-day treat and helps boost your energy levels!

Pumpkin is packed with an array of health benefits - it helps support eye health; decreases the risk of lung cancer in smokers; provides 246% of the RDA of vitamin A; protects from age related macular disease; rich in B-complex for a healthy nervous system and calmness; rich in minerals like copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorous; and is loaded with fiber and mono-unsaturated fatty acids!

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup pumpkin pureé (you can buy organic, no-sugar pumpkin purée from a can at a health foods store, or you can make your own RAW pumpkin puree by blending some pumpkin in a vitamix with a little bit of water)
- 1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice
- 3 medjool dates, pitted
- 1 banana, ripe and spotty
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla bean
- 1 cup young thai coconut water or fresh almond milk (freshly made is best, for the raw effect, or you can use almond milk from the store)

Blend all the ingredients together for 30 seconds and enjoy!

8 Amazing Health Benefits of Peaches

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When it comes to improving brain power, choosing the right foods is essential. The nutrients you ingest, day in, day out, will help you use your brain more efficiently. The more you are using your brain, the more it will grow new connections, new cells, and improve your ability to problem-solve and store memories.

Making sure you eat fresh, local organic produce is also crucial. This will get your brain functioning at its peak, because these foods are much closer to their natural state and have a much higher availability of phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. Consuming highly processed foods that are filled with numerous chemicals are not nutritious, and can actually slow the connections and neuronal firing in your brain.

I should also mention that drinking plenty of water (at least 2 litres or more a day) is very important to help the brain function properly and to hel Tis the season for peaches! Now is the time to get in as many organic peaches as you can, to help nourish your body and invite it with as many vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients as possible! It is important to purchase organic peaches because conventional peaches are sprayed with nasty pesticides and herbicides which will eradicate any beneficial components in the peach. Read on to learn about the 8 incredible benefits of the amazing peach!

Eye Health
Peaches are a great source of beta carotene (a compound that is converted to vitamin A in the body, and which is crucial to the health of our retinas). Individuals with sight problems are often deficient in beta carotene, so consuming peaches will help up your beta carotene levels and nourish the health of your eyes. This compound also helps prevent night blindness and age-related macular degeneration.

Protection Against Toxins
Peaches are a great way to cleanse out toxins from your colon, kidneys, stomach and liver. The high fibre content pushes out any toxic excess waste matter from your colon, and helps protect against colon cancer. Peaches are also rich in potassium which reduces kidney related diseases and reduces your chance of developing ulcers.

Aids in Weight Loss
Including lots of fresh ripe juicy fruit in your diet is a great way to help control your hunger and lose weight. Peaches contain natural fruit sugars, so they do not raise your blood sugar or insulin levels (only processed sugary foods do this – refined & artificial sugars which deposit as fat in your body). The sweetness of this fruit also controls any food cravings you may have, so it is a win-win situation!

Fights Cancer
Peaches are incredibly high in antioxidants. Particularly, they contain an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid (concentrated in the skin and flesh of the peach) which is known to protect the body from cancer and other chronic diseases. This antioxidant is also responsible for reducing inflammation in the body (helping those suffering from arthritis) and helps slow the aging process.

Cardiovascular Health
Peaches are high in iron and vitamin K which are two important substances for keeping the heart healthy. Vitamin K prevents the blood from clotting and protects against a myriad of heart diseases. Iron keeps the blood healthy and strong and prevents against iron-deficiency anemia. The lycopene and lutein in peaches also significantly reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Do your cardiovascular system a favour and go eat some peaches!

Kidney Cleansing
The potassium in peaches are great for reducing kidney related diseases and helps to cleanse your bladder. The concentration of potassium and other vitamins in this amazing little fruit allows your body to maintain normal kidney and liver function. Eating peaches will help prevent nephritis and a variety of other kidney diseases as well as help eliminate kidney stones.

Skin Health
The levels of vitamin C in peaches are very high! Vitamin C is an essential ingredient that benefits the youthfulness of our skin (and also helps keep our immune system high!). Peaches help slow the aging process so they reduce the formation of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin (thanks to the antioxidants like vitamin C and chlorogenic acid). Rubbing some peach on your skin as a temporary mask is another great way to slough away dead skin and to allow the peach enzymes to nourish and refreshen your skin.

Antioxidants
As we have seen throughout the previous seven points, peaches are very high in antioxidants, ranging from lycopene to vitamin C to chlorogenic acid. All of these antioxidants serve to keep your body healthy and in tip-top shape. Antioxidants help scavenge free radicals in the body which would normally cause life-threatening diseases and illnesses like cancer, auto-immune diseases and a variety of other illnesses. Providing your body with a diet rich in seasonally-ripe fruit is the best way to ensure you are getting more than enough antioxidants.
p you feel more alert. After all, your water constitutes over 85% of your brain’s weight. 

8 Foods that Boost your Brain Power

Berries (blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, goji berries, mulberries, seabuckthorn, golden berries, boysenberries, saskatoons, etc.)
Berries are a great food for increasing brain power because of their high antioxidant content. They have been shown to prevent nerve-related degeneration and decline in both cognitive and motor function because they reduce inflammation and improve neuronal cell longevity. The polyphenolic compounds in berries also protect against neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as depression.

Asparagus (and other foods rich in folic acid like okra, spinach, collards, sunflower seeds, romaine lettuce and beans)
Why are foods that are high in folic acid great for the brain? This vitamin has been found to improve memory and cognition in healthy adults aged 50-70 years old. Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin which improves cognitive functioning, especially with respect to memory and information processing speed. Consuming foods rich in folic acid like asparagus and spinach will help your brain tremendously!

Avocados
Avocados are a great healthy fat to include in your diet and they are high in vitamin E. They contain essential fatty acids which are necessary for maximum brain power as well as supporting proper brain growth and development. Omega fatty acids help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and help boost your memory and ability to learn new things!

Carrots (and other foods rich in beta carotene and vitamin C like mangos, oranges, broccoli, tomato, cantaloupe, peppers, and rainbow chard)
Beta carotene rich foods may reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Beta carotene is an antioxidant that prevents oxidative stress in the brain which normally damages brain cells leading to rapid brain aging and associated cognitive decline. In studies with groups of individuals taking beta carotene and comparing them to controls (no beta carotene), it was found that the brain was able to function much more efficiently, particularly with respect to verbal memory.

Hemp Seeds (and other healthy nuts & seeds like chia seeds, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds)
Hemp seeds are high in omega fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory and help protect the nervous system. How do they do this? To put it simply, they “feed” and repair the myelin sheaths that protect our nerves, which if not protected, can lead to serious health issues like multiple sclerosis (a disease caused by myelin sheath damage). Omega fatty acids in hemp seeds and other nuts and seeds also help lift depression and those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and can reduce the harmful effects of chronic stress.

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables (think collards, kale, swiss card, beet greens, green & red leaf lettuce, dandelion greens, and dark green herbs like basil, mint, parsley, cilantro, dill, arugula, and watercress)
Dark leafy green vegetables are known for their ability to keep the brain sharp through aging. These greens are rich in folate (a B vitamin, as mentioned earlier) and can protect against cognitive decline in older adults. Folate helps reduce blood levels of homocysteine (a blood marker of cardiovascular disease), which when high, have been linked to lower cognitive test scores. Leafy green vegetables are also very mineral and vitamin dense, which help keep our brain sharp, and our thoughts clearer.

Bananas
Bananas are a great brain food. For one, they help lift depression due to their high tryptophan content (a protein that the body converts into serotonin), which helps you relax and improve mood. Secondly, they are remarkably high in potassium (same with medjool dates!) which is a mineral that helps send oxygen to the brain and thus makes you feel more alert. They are also rich in B vitamins which are very important in calming the nervous system and protecting the myelin sheath around our nerves.

Watermelon (and other water rich foods like melon, zucchini, cucumbers and celery)

Ensuring you stay hydrated is a great way to keep your memory sharp, moods balanced and motivation strong. If you are dehydrated (which more than 95% of the population normally is), you reduce oxygen flow to the brain and could temporarily shrink neurons. Consuming water rich foods like watermelon, cucumbers and celery will prevent this from happening and can help you focus better on the tasks at hand.


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Health benefits of grapefruit juice


8 Foods That Will Keep Your Eyes Healthy

As the saying goes, 'eyes are the windows to the soul'. These 8 foods will help keep them in tip top shape!



  • Carrots are a well known vegetable for keeping eyes in good health. The Vitamin A has been proven to help with night vision. 
  • Bell Peppers contain Zeaxanthin know to keep eyes healthy and reducing age- related degenerative disorders to the eyes.
  • Collard Greens, like carrots, are a great source of Vitamin A.
  • Broccoli also contains high levels of Vitamin A. It too can prevent age related diseases.
  • Kale is a power packed vegetable containing Vitamin A, zeaxanthin and lutein compounds.
  • Brussels Sprouts contain high amount of zeaxanthin, lutein and beta-carotene which all promote good eye health.
  • Spinach is packed full of lutein, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. 
  • Apricots contain a good source of Vitamin A. With a high beta-carotene content these little fruits are a great way to protect your eyes.

So why do these foods help to keep the eyes so healthy?

 Research undertaken by the University of Manchester* in England has shown that the zeaxanthin and lutein compounds, when combined, produce and oily yellow substance that build up on the central part of the retina. This substance, known as macular pigment, is considered to be what helps protect the eye from age-related macular degeneration or AMD for short.



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