They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. But in reality, the eyes are the windows to the brain. As a matter of fact, eyes are a direct extension of the brain (mind-blowing, right?) Yes, you read that right. We see with our brains, which makes vision extremely important for our health (kind of makes me regret all those hours of TikTok I've been watching). On top of seeing with our brains, our eyes can be early detectors of serious health issues in the body. Let's get into it.
I bet you are wondering how in the world are the eyes related to the brain. The eyes take in light wavelengths and change the light into energy and send it to the brain through the optic nerve. The 6 muscles in the eye allow it to move up, down, and around, and around. And because the eye has muscles, eye strain is a real thing (we will get into this later). Eye inflammation is also a real thing. Inflammation is possible throughout the entire body, from head to toe. But eye inflammation could be an early detector that an autoimmune disease or high blood pressure is present. This is why eye exams are life-saving.
Getting eye exams are very important for vision health. Strokes, brain tumors, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, migraines, concussions, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative conditions can all be detected through the eyes. The blood vessels behind the eyes are weakened by certain diseases and disorders potentially causing vision loss. Vision loss is connected to diabetes, strokes, and a bunch of other ailments. So getting annual eye exams can be life-saving, literally.
By now you are wondering what you can do nutritionally speaking to help with your eye health (I know I am after reading that list of diseases). So just like the skittles slogan, "taste the rainbow" is one of the best things we can do for vision health. Just subtract the skittles and replace them with fruits and vegetables That's right. Eat the rainbow in fruits and vegetables. They contain a plethora of vitamins, minerals antioxidants, and bioflavonoids that our eyes need. And I hate to state the obvious, water. Yep, hydration is key for vision health (the dry eye is real). Our eyes need oxygen. Lastly, exercise is great for vision health. I know you can't fathom the correlation between exercise and vision health, right??! But that's what I'm here for. It's simple, exercise helps lower the risk of vision threatening disease by pumping blood throughout the body and brain (remember, we need those blood vessels behind the eyes to stay long and strong, not clogged up like a traffic jam).
So keep those beautiful peepers in mind (literally) when thinking of your health. Clearly, they are good for more than just seeing.
Stay Healthy and Eat Your Medicine!
Noire Nutrition,
Aziza Lucas, NTP
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