Is your vision becoming blurry as you grow older? Finding it increasingly difficult to drive at night?
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Cataracts are an eye condition that causes your vision to blur due to a buildup of proteins on the lens of your eye. Left untreated, cataracts can result in progressive loss of vision and, ultimately, blindness.
- The most common treatment for cataracts is surgery, but it’s not without risks. In 42 percent of cases, cataract surgery results in dry eyes, and in 20 percent of cases, it leaves the patient with a droopy eyelid.
- Your eyes are significantly affected by blood sugar. Chronically high blood sugar from poor nutrition and lack of exercise can trigger long-term damage to your body and make you more prone to eye diseases, including cataracts, glaucoma, and blindness.
- Antioxidants found in leafy greens and colorful berries and vegetables can help prevent and/or treat cataracts. Key nutrients include carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, and vitamin C.
- Other natural remedies for cataracts include N-acetylcarnosine (NAC) drops and N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) drops.
- Blurry, cloudy, or foggy vision.
- Changes in color perception.
- Difficulty driving at night due to glare from lights.
- Sensitivity to sunlight.
- Nearsightedness.
- Double vision.
- Glasses and contacts no longer seem to improve your vision.
Cataract Surgery Is Not Risk-Free
The most common treatment for cataracts is surgery, but as noted by Mr. Berg, it’s not without risks. In 42 percent of cases, cataract surgery results in dry eyes, and in 20 percent of cases, it leaves the patient with a droopy eyelid. Other potential side effects include floaters, retinal detachment, eye infection, glaucoma, further vision loss, and secondary cataracts.5Like Mr. Berg, I would strongly encourage trying one or more natural remedies before resorting to surgery. He points out that scientific evidence showing the efficacy of natural remedies are typically scant, but that doesn’t mean they’re useless. The reason for this lack of scientific evidence is that few are willing to invest the funds required to study a compound that will never turn a profit.
You cannot patent foods or natural nutrients, for example, and supplements don’t hold a candle with respect to profitability compared to drugs. You cannot charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for a bottle of supplements. On the other hand, the risk you take by trying a natural remedy is near nonexistent.
Your Eyes Are Affected by Blood Sugar
As explained by Mr. Berg, your eyes are significantly affected by blood sugar. Chronically high blood sugar from poor nutrition and lack of exercise can trigger long-term damage to your body and make you more prone to eye diseases, including cataracts, glaucoma, and blindness.6,7,8 Mr. Berg explains:9“When your blood sugar is high, it creates a lot of oxidative stress in different tissues, including the eyes. Our bodies produce [endogenous] antioxidants to protect against this oxidation and free radical damage. But certain things, like age and diet, can cause our bodies to make fewer antioxidants.
“However, plants also make potent antioxidants that we can take advantage of to help counter the effects of oxidative stress. The two categories that we’re focusing on today are carotenoids and anthocyanins.”
Carotenoids and Anthocyanins Support Eye Health
Carotenoids and anthocyanins are natural pigments found in fruits, berries, and vegetables. Foods high in carotenoids include yellow, orange, red, and purple fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised egg yolks, and grass-fed meats.Key carotenoids known for their protective effects on eye health include beta-carotene (a precursor for vitamin A), lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin. I’ll review some of the benefits and mechanisms of action of lutein and astaxanthin further below.
- 1 cup red, purple, or blue berries of your choice
- 1 cup kefir (grass-fed, whole milk, unsweetened)
Antioxidant Eye Drops for Cataracts
Other natural remedies for cataracts mentioned by Mr. Berg include N-acetylcarnosine (NAC) drops. This should not be confused with N-acetylcysteine which is also known as NAC. N-acetylcarnosine has been shown to penetrate your cornea into the lens of your eye, where the cataract is located.“The researchers used oxysterol to attempt to alter the levels of alpha-crystallin B or alpha-crystallin A proteins present in the lenses of 26 mice. These proteins often cause cataracts to develop in aging.
“The study showed that oxysterol improved lens opacity 61% of the time. This is a promising sign that oxysterol may be an effective, nonsurgical treatment for cataracts.”
Lutein Protects Against Eye Diseases
[embed]https://www.bitchute.com/video/rcdoRfCC20iz/[/embed]Lutein is also found in the lens, where it helps protect against cataracts and other age-related eye diseases. Among carotenoids, lutein is the most efficient at filtering out blue light—the type that comes from cellphones, computers, tablets, and LED lights. Blue light induces oxidative stress in your eyes, which increases the risk of cataracts and macular diseases. Lutein, however, acts as a shield against it.
- Dark leafy greens
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Egg yolks
- Red and yellow peppers
- Sweet corn
- Avocados
- Raspberries
- Cherries
- Paprika
How Much Lutein and Zeaxanthin Do You Need?
While there’s no recommended daily intake for lutein and zeaxanthin, studies have found health benefits for lutein at doses between 6 milligrams (mg) and 20 mg per day16,17,18 and 2 mg per day for zeaxanthin.19How to Optimize Lutein Absorption
Lutein and other carotenoids are fat-soluble, so to optimize absorption, be sure to add a little bit of healthy fat to your meal. For example, research shows that adding a couple of eggs—which contain both lutein and healthy fats—to your salad can increase the carotenoid absorption from the whole meal as much as ninefold.21,22 Egg yolks are also a primary source of choline, which helps counter dry eye.23Ideally, opt for organically raised, free-range pastured eggs. Not only do they tend to have a better nutritional profile, by opting for pastured eggs you’ll also avoid pesticide exposure and genetically modified organisms.
Most commercially available eggs come from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), where the hens are not permitted to forage on pasture. Instead, they’re typically fed a diet of corn and soy, the vast majority of which are genetically engineered. CAFO eggs are also far more prone to cause foodborne illness caused by salmonella contamination.
Vitamin C Combats Cataracts
Other nutrients are also beneficial for vision health. For instance, vitamin C is associated with a lower risk of cataracts. One study25 compared vitamin C intake and the progression of cataracts in more than 320 pairs of female twins over the course of a decade.It found that those who ate more vitamin C-rich foods lowered their risk of cataracts by one-third. Interestingly, vitamin C supplements were not associated with a reduction in risk.
Astaxanthin–The Most Powerful Promoter of Eye Health
Saving the best for last, astaxanthin is even more potent an antioxidant than both lutein and zeaxanthin, and many researchers believe it to be the most powerful antioxidant ever discovered for eye health.26,27Astaxanthin is produced by the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis when its water supply dries up, forcing it to protect itself from UV radiation. Besides the microalgae that produce it, the only other source are the sea creatures that consume the algae, such as wild salmon, shellfish, and krill.
Astaxanthin also helps maintain appropriate eye pressure levels that are already within the normal range and supports your eyes’ energy levels and visual acuity. Depending on your individual situation, you may want to take an astaxanthin supplement. I recommend starting with 4 mg per day and working your way up to about 8 mg per day—or more if you’re suffering from chronic inflammation.
Other Natural Strategies That Help Protect Your Vision
Despite what your eye doctor may say, in my opinion, there are natural, common-sense strategies you can employ to help protect your healthy vision, starting with your diet. As discussed above, certain foods are more or less necessary for optimal vision and can go a long way toward protecting your eyesight throughout life.Avoid Blue Light
—such as that from electronic screens, as blue light reduces melatonin in your lens, which is a big cause for cataracts. Avoiding blue light becomes even more important if you have cataract surgery, as your natural lens has some built-in protection against blue light whereas the artificial lens does not.(UV-blocking artificial lenses are available through special order, but it’s not standard.) So, if you get cataract surgery, wear blue-blocking glasses when looking at screens and when in artificial lighting indoors.Quit Smoking
Smoking ramps up free radical production throughout your body and puts you at risk for less-than-optimal health in many ways. If you want healthy vision for your whole life, you cannot afford to risk less-than-optimal eye health with cigarettes.Care for Your Cardiovascular System by Getting Regular Exercise
High blood pressure can cause damage to the minuscule blood vessels on your retina, obstructing free blood flow. A regular exercise program can go a long way toward reducing your blood pressure. It’s also critical for optimizing your insulin and leptin levels.Normalize Your Blood Sugar
As mentioned earlier, chronically elevated blood sugar can damage your eyes and obstruct blood flow to your retina. To keep your blood sugar in a healthy range, follow my comprehensive nutrition guidelines.Avoid Seed Oils and Processed Foods
Your eyes are highly susceptible to and damaged by polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) such as linoleic acid (LA), so avoid cooking with seed oils (a.k.a. vegetable oils) and stay clear of processed foods. I’ve previously interviewed Dr. Chris Knobbe, an ophthalmologist who wrote a book on the historical progression of AMD, showing how it rose in tandem with the consumption of seed oils. His conclusion is that seed oils or high doses of omega-6, specifically LA, were the primary culprit not just in AMD but chronic diseases of all kinds.Avoid Aspartame
Vision problems are one of the many potential acute symptoms of aspartame poisoning.◇ References:
- 1, 13 Medical News Today, Cataracts
- 2, 3, 5 Landmark Senior Living, Cataracts
- 4 Money Control, Eye Health
- 6 NY State Department of Health, Diabetes Basics, What Complications are Caused by Diabetes?
- 7 Diabetes.org, Complications
- 8 Mayo Clinic, Diabetes Complications
- 9 YouTube Dr. Eric Berg April 3, 2023, Video notes
- 10 Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews Feb 2017; 2017(2): CD009493
- 11 BMC Ophthalmology 2017; 17: 54
- 12 IOVS May 2022; 63: 15
- 14 Nutrients. 2020 June; 12(6): 1721., 1.2 Distribution of Lutein in the Human Body
- 15 British Journal of Ophthalmology Aug 1998; 82(8): 907–910
- 16 Nutrients May 2013; 5(5): 1823-1839
- 17 Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science December 2006, Vol.47, 5227-5233
- 18 PLOS ONE Dec 30, 2019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227048
- 19 Verywell Health Dec 9, 2022
- 20 Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences June 1, 2016;57(7):3429-39
- 21 Science Daily March 9, 2015
- 22 Time Magazine March 30, 2015
- 23 YouTube Dr. Eric Berg April 3, 2023
- 24 Cornucopia.org Organic Egg Scorecard
- 25 Opthalmology June 2016; 123(6): 1237-1244
- 26 Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture May 1, 2001: 81(6); 559-568
- 27 Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019; 2019: 3849692
- 28 J Ophthalmol. 2022; 2022: 8071406
- 29 Marine Drugs 2020 May; 18(5): 239
- 30 Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Aug; 9(8): 729