The human body contains approximately 36 trillion cells. Cells communicate with each other every millisecond of life to coordinate functioning and maximize health. The mind-body connection includes how you think, and how organs communicate back and forth with the brain.
Keeping in balance in Western medicine is referred to as “homeostasis”. An example of homeostasis is maintaining the optimum body temperature at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When you exercise, your body sweats to cool off. If you are cold, you shiver involuntarily to create more body heat.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Ayurvedic practices of India have acknowledged the concept of homeostasis for thousands of years. These practices view health and treatment from a whole-body perspective.
In Western medicine, “Functional Medicine” proposes that many illnesses stem from imbalances in the gut. The digestive system and nervous system coordinate signals. This is called the gut-brain connection. Gut imbalances and related illnesses have increased over the decades. Evidence points to our food and eating habits, including:
- high amounts of refined carbohydrates, sugar, and processed foods
- pesticides on plants
- antibiotics and hormones fed to animals
- less farm-to-table food preparation
For instance, fruits and vegetables easily bruise and spoil when shipped over long distances. These foods are picked early, before they are ripe, shipped, and ripened more rapidly using a gas. This is why peaches, nectarines, and pears are now crunchy and flavorless instead of soft and juicy. Field-ripened produce has developed the full antioxidant levels your body needs for good health.
A key player in this gut-brain connection is the enteric nervous system, which includes the vagus nerve and gut microbiome. The brain and digestive systems have evolved together to help us survive. This connection regulates hunger and sense of feeling full, mood, behavior, immunity, digestion, stress levels, food sensitivities and intolerance, cognitive function, pain sensitivity and much more.
The body’s stress response is regulated by a neuroendocrine system called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It coordinates these organs in releasing hormones to help keep the body in balance.
Scientists are researching how our genes influence the development of disease. Eye diseases that sometimes have underlying genetic factors which can include:
- Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardt’s Disease, Fuch’s Corneal Dystrophy, and Marfan Syndrome
- Early-onset Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration
However, just having a genetic predisposition to an eye disease does not necessarily mean you will develop the disease. The science of epigenetics shows that our environment and nutrition can significantly impact whether a genetic tendency towards a disease is activated or not.
Key environmental factors include emotional support during childhood, a balanced diet, and minimizing exposure to pollution and toxic metals. Chronic stress, drug use, smoking, and some medications can influence our genetic expression as well.
By understanding and managing these factors, we can potentially prevent certain genes related to diseases from being triggered. Your lifestyle choices can make a big difference, even if your family has a history of a genetic disorder. The body is always trying to maintain homeostasis, so supporting it holistically can reduce the effects of genetic diseases and help the body manage the effects of a genetically-related condition.
Macular degeneration is an example of an eye condition that is commonly linked to the eyes not receiving essential nutrients, particularly in seniors. This condition can result from an inadequate diet, poor nutrient absorption, impaired circulation, high blood pressure, chronic inflammatory diseases, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Even if Macular Degeneration sets in, research shows that a healthier lifestyle, improved diet, and targeted supplements can help preserve vision. In many cases, lifestyle changes can improve vision in these patients.
Change Your Lifestyle – Improve Your Health
Lifestyle choices that help maintain healthy vision and overall health include:
- exercising
- eating a wide range of vegetables and fruits, preferably organic
- reducing white flour and sugar
- eliminating foods containing trans fats such as those found in:
- Baked goods from the grocery store
- Vegetable shortening
- Microwave popcorn
- Frozen pizza
- Refrigerated dough
- Fried foods
- Nondairy coffee creamer
- stick margarine
- Avoid fast food
- Practice a daily meditation, yoga, tai chi or qigong
- Spend time with friends and family
- Take targeted, high quality supplements
Supplements give you the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your body needs. In our fast-paced society, not everyone has the time to shop and properly prepare healthy meals. So it can be difficult to ingest all the nutrients you need.
The body needs 30 micronutrients that it cannot produce. These nutrients must come from food or supplements. For example, Vitamin D deficiency is common, particularly in seniors. Vitamin D is an antioxidant that supports immunity and muscle function and protects the brain, and supports muscle function.
Essential eye nutrients include lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, taurine, bilberry, essential fatty acids, vitamin E, C, B complex, astaxanthin,coQ10, gingko biloba, resveratrol and other vitamins and minerals. See our video, “Food for the Eyes” for foods that contain these nutrients in high concentrations.
For juicing recipes and more information on our Vision Diet, click the links in the description.
Suggested Supplements
Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (whole food) 60 vcaps
Dr. Grossman’s Meso Plus Retinal Support and Computer Eye Strain Formula with Astaxanthin 90 vcaps
Dr. Grossman’s Advanced Eye and Dr. G’s Whole Food Superfood Multi1 20 Vcap Combo – 2 months supply
ReVision Formula (wild-crafted herbal formula) 2 oz – based on classic Chinese medicine Liver tonic formula to help support healthy circulation and blood flow throughout the eyes and body.
Advanced Eye and Vision Support / Meso Plus Combo (3 month supply)
Retinal Support (wild-crafted herbal formula) 2 oz
Brain and Memory Support Package 1