Macrobiotic Eye Remedies

Every system in your body relies on good nutrition for optimum function. Your eyes are no exception. A macrobiotic diet, which relies on whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables, can provide relief from a number of eye conditions and even prevent eye disease from developing in the first place. When you get the right balance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants delivered by a macrobiotic diet, your eyes should stay in good health.

Macrobiotics Basics

• The best way to get the nutrition your body needs for good eye health is through the foods you eat. Vitamins and minerals from foods are easier for your body to absorb and are often in better balance than those you get from supplements.

  A macrobiotic approach ensures you are getting all the nutrients you need to prevent or remedy eye diseases. To begin a macrobiotic diet, eliminate food items such as sugar, alcohol, caffeine and salt, which can trigger extreme reactions in the body and create free radicals. Next, build your meals and snacks around fruits and vegetables. Augment your meals with whole grains and plant-based proteins such as tofu, beans, legumes and nuts. Cook foods using steaming, sautéing or poaching to retain as much of the nutrient content and balance as possible.

A Macrobiotic Diet to Prevent Eye Diseases

• Four common conditions can steal your vision as you age: diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. Many foods that are a natural part of the macrobiotic diet contain nutrients that may prevent these diseases or slow their progression.

  Foods high in sugar and starch cause imbalances in your blood sugar and insulin levels. This can lead to damage of the small vessels within the eyes and contribute to diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. A macrobiotic diet eliminates these foods, a step that will improve your eye health.

  The antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are found in high levels within your eyes; they help protect the delicate cells of your retina from free-radical damage. You can improve your levels of these two nutrients by eating more yellow and leafy green vegetables. Try spinach, fresh basil, kale, collard greens, yellow squash and mixed green salads.

  Other vitamins you need for eye health include vitamins A, C and E. Vitamins C and E particularly have been connected with a lower incident of cataracts. Sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, strawberries and cantaloupe are good sources of vitamin C. Spinach and nuts deliver vitamin E. Choose carrots, broccoli and pink grapefruit for vitamin A in the form of beta carotene.

  Your eyes also need zinc and alpha lipoic acid. The best macrobiotic sources of zinc are peanuts, cashews, almonds, peas, garbanzo beans and whole grain oatmeal. Flaxseed provides alpha lipoic acid, which helps to relieve and prevent glaucoma.

  Preventing disease is only one benefit that a macrobiotic diet provides. A macrobiotic diet delivers plenty of antioxidants, which protect your eyes from minor damage, like the development of floaters, and coenzyme Q10. Both of these nutrients improve overall eye health and vision.