What is the relationship between brain health and eye health as we age? Our brains adapt and form new connections throughout our lives. Nutrition, lifestyle choices, and early detection play major roles in keeping the brain healthy, and the eyes. Find out about Natural Eye Care’s holistic approach to brain and eye health.
Brain Plasticity
Our brains have an incredible ability to adapt and change as we age. Brain plasticity means that our brains can rewire themselves and form new connections, even as we get older.
Without brain plasticity, we would not be able to learn new things, solve problems, or remember important moments in our lives. It helps us stay sharp and engaged as we navigate the world around us.
As the brain ages, it becomes less resilient. However, regular exercise, daily meditation, stress management, and a healthy diet help keep the brain sharp. If nutritional deficiencies are suspected, taking specific supplements can counteract problems in the brain. Seniors have less efficient digestion, hampering their ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Essential Nutrients for Brain Health
At Natural Eye Care, we have reviewed the research on nutrients for the brain. Michael Edson is the President of Natural Eye Care and the author of two books on natural brain care. He found that certain nutrients are especially powerful for supporting the brain. Natural Eye Care co-founder, Dr. Marc Grossman, has prepared a line of exclusive supplements that contain a wide variety of nutrients, including:
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine
- Ashwagandha (root)
- Bacopa Extract (whole herb)
- Blueberry Extract (fruit) or Bilberry (as choline bitartrate)
- COQ10
- Gingko Biloba
- Glutathione
- Huperzine-A
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom Extract (fruit)
- Lutein
- Magnesium
- N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Phosphatidylserine
- Pine Bark Extract (bark)
- Pomegranate Extract (fruit)
- PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone)
- Rhodiola rosea Extract (root)
- Taurine
- Turmeric
- Zeaxanthin
Diet: Your Meals, Snacks and Drinks
The brain is nutrient-hungry. Most of the nutrients that we take in are utilized by the brain. The visual system comes in second place. Essential brain foods include most vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables, berries, first cold pressed olive oil, whole grains, and nuts.
Certain categories of foods are especially damaging to the brain. Reduce or avoid all types of sugar, white flour, and other refined carbohydrates. High triglyceride levels in the blood lead to metabolic syndrome, increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. Eating too many calories increases triglyceride levels. So do margarine, chips, fried foods, excessive red meat, and fast food. Artificial sweeteners should be completely avoided, as research has shown that many are toxic to the brain.
At Natural Eye Care, we recommend the Vision Diet — a variation on the Mediterranean Diet.
Negative Lifestyle Considerations
Bad habits are linked to brain decline. Smoking tobacco, taking recreational drugs, and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol are obviously poor lifestyle choices. Managing stress has also been shown to help protect the brain as we age.
Poor Choices That Don’t Keep the Brain Healthy
We all know that recreational drugs, smoking, and excessive alcoholic drinks are bad for you. If having a healthy brain feels important, take the warnings seriously. Professional help is available to curb these addictive behaviors. One glass of red wine per night is fine; more can be detrimental. Another lifestyle choice that can lead to brain disease is chronic stress.
Turn Chronic Stress Around
You need to be able to relax. Toxic, negative stress induces the “fight and flight” response. Over time, chronic stress damages your health. It can even change the architecture of the brain. Stress can lead to:
- A suppressed immune system,[1 Dhabhar FS, Malarkey WB, Neri E, McEwen BS. (2012). Stress-induced redistribution of immune cells–from barracks to boulevards to battlefields: a tale of three hormones–Curt Richter Award winner. Psychoneuroendocrinology. Sep; 37(9):1345-68.] high blood pressure, and digestive disorders.
- Less brain plasticity. Body chemistry that is always primed for emergency action can cause irreversible damage. In theory, this can activate a destructive cascade that leads to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Anxiety, PTSD, 1 2 and social avoidance 3 may share chronic stress as a risk factor.
Brain Health is Connected to Visual Health
The eyes and the brain are closely linked. Keeping your eyes healthy can support your cognitive functioning, too. Your eyes play a crucial role in transmitting visual information to your brain. The retina and optic nerve, which process light and images, are essential for clear vision. In fact, the retina develops from brain cells in the womb.
Maintaining good eye health can also help support cognitive function. Many of the essential nutrients needed for the health of the retina and optic nerve are also vital for maintaining healthy brain function. These antioxidants and nutrients can cross the blood-brain barrier, nourishing both the eyes and the brain.
Changes in the retina can sometimes indicate underlying health conditions before symptoms appear elsewhere in the body. For instance, alterations in the retina may signal conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and even Alzheimer’s Disease. In fact, signs of Alzheimer’s Disease, such as beta-amyloid plaque, can often be detected in the retina years before the disease is diagnosed. This makes regular eye check-ups crucial, especially for seniors who may be at risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. 4
Suggested Supplements for Keeping the Eyes and Brain Healthy
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
Nitric Oxide Supplement – helps promote increased oxygen through the body and eyes.
NMN Wonderfeel Capsul 60 vegcaps
Dr. Grossman’s Premium Turmeric Vcaps (Organic)
Brain and Memory Power Boost 120 caps
Cognirev Extra Strength 2 oz Oral Spray
Packages
Brain and Memory Support Package 1
AMD Package 1 (3-month supply)
Recommended Books
Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision and Healing
Natural Parkinson’s Support: Your Guide to Preventing and Managing Parkinson’s
- Fietta P, Fietta P. (2007). Glucocorticoids and brain functions. Riv Biol. Sep-Dec;100(3):403-18. ↩
- Vyas A, Mitra R, Shankaranarayana Rao BS, Chattarji S. (2002). Chronic stress induces contrasting patterns of dendritic remodeling in hippocampal and amygdaloid neurons. J Neurosci. Aug 1; 22(15):6810-8. ↩
- Krishnan V, Han MH, Graham DL, Berton O, Renthal W, Russo SJ, Laplant Q, et al. (2007). Molecular adaptations underlying susceptibility and resistance to social defeat in brain reward regions., Nestler EJ Cell. 2007 Oct 19; 131(2):391-404. ↩
- Rumney N.J. The aging eye and visual appliances. Opthal Physiol Opt. 1998;18:191–196 ↩