Eye Issues (General, Cataracts, Glaucoma & Macular Degeneration)

FOODS TO EAT MORE OF

• Fruits: apricots, avocados, bananas, bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, clementines, cranberries, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, oranges, papyas, peaches, pumpkin, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, tomatoes, watermelon (dried fruits are good as well)
• Vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, corn, fennel, green & orange & red bell peppers, kale, squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, watercress, white potatoes, mustard greens, Swiss chard
• Whole grains, eggs, seeds (especially pumpkin), nuts, beans, fish/seafood (especially salmon, tuna, halibut), poultry, yogurt, egg yolks
• Olive oil,  wheat germ, garlic (raw if you can), ginger, turmeric, parsley

 
FOODS TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE

• Red meat & dairy products (except eggs & yogurt)
• Refined foods, fried foods
• Excessive sugar
• Glaucoma can be related to food intolerance - try an ELIMINATION DIET

 
ESSENTIAL OILS 

• To improve vision: juniper, lemongrass, cypress, eucalyptus (diluted in carrier oil on feet, big toes, bottom of feet, ankles, pelvis, brain stem and/or eye area but NOT directly in the eyes).
• For swollen eyes: cypress,helichrysum, lavender (diluted and on eye area, NOT directly in the eyes). 
• For Cataracts: lemongrass, cypress, eucalyptus (around eye area, but do NOT get in eyes).

 
HERBAL

• Calendula, Dandelion leaf, eyebright, evening primrose, fennel, German chamomile, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, goldenseal, parsley, passionflower, rosemary, turmeric
• Eye Rinses:
  • Eyebright (1 tsp/pint), Chamomile (2 tsp/cup), Goldenseal (1 tsp/cup), Marigold (1 Tbsp/cup)
  • Instructions: mix amounts indicated above of dried herb and hot water; cool and strain. Prepare fresh daily. Use an eye-cup to wash affected eye 3 times daily. Can also drink the tea.
  • Conjunctivitis: goldenseal (a few drops of tea in warm sterilized water)
• For pink eye and styes: Marigold eye bath (see above for instructions).
• Styes: a little  marigold or tea tree cream (be careful not to get IN EYE).  Marigold eye bath (see above for instructions).  Taking garlic or echinacea internally can also help. 
• Recent studies suggest fresh aloe sap directly in the eye can heal multiple eye issues as well, but check with your doctor before trying this.

 
NATURAL

• Flaxseed Oil: 1 Tablespoon (14 grams) daily (take in the morning).
• For tired eyes, cover with slices of cucumber or used teabags of green tea, fennel or chamomile.
• For improving night vision, try bilberries and/or noni.

SUPPLEMENTS

• Alpha-lipoic acid: 150 mg daily (take in the morning or without food)
• Bilberry: 80 mg 3 times daily (should contain 25% anthocyanosides; may be included in nutritional supplement eye formulas). OR Yeast-Fermented Bilberry Extract (extracted from the fruit, not the leaves)
• Carotenoids: 2 pills mixed carotenoids daily with food (should supply 25,000 IU vitamin A activity)
• Ginkgo Biloba: 40 mg 3 times daily (should contain at least 24% flavone glycosides)
• Grape Seed Extract: 100 mg twice daily (should contain 92%-95% proanthocyanidins)
• Selenium: 400 mcg daily (don't exceed 600 mcg daily; higher doses may be toxic)
• Vitamin A: 50,000 IU twice daily for 7 days, then 25,000 IU daily for 3 weeks (pregnant women should not exceed 5,000 IU daily)
• Vitamin C: 1,000 mg 3 times daily for a month (reduce if it causes diarrhea)
• Vitamin E: 400 IU daily (check with doctor if you are taking anticoagulant drugs)
• Zeaxanthin: 4mg/day for macular degeneration; 2 mg/day preventative
• Zinc/ Copper: 30 mg zinc (add 2 mg copper daily if using zinc longer than 1 month)

 
Glaucoma:

• Vitamin C:  5-20g daily (as much as can be tolerated w/o diarrhea)
• Rutin (a bioflavonoid): 20 mg 3 x's daily
• Melatonin: less than 1g daily (avoid if pregnant, nursing, or suffering from depression, schizophrenia, or auto immune diseases including lupus)

 
Age-Related Vision Deterioration (try cocktail below)

• Vitamin C:  500 mg daily
• Vitamin E: 400 IU daily
• Beta-Carotene: 15 mg daily
• Zinc: 80 mg daily
• Copper: 2 mg daily
• Bilberry:80 mg 3 times daily

 
Cataracts:

• Bilberry and Vitamin E together have shown promising results

MIND-BODY CONNECTION​​

• Nearsightedness can represent a tendency to live in the moment and not plan for the future, or a fear of the future.
•  Farsightedness can represent a tendency to plan for the future and focus on "what-if's" and not being able to live in the present moment or a fear of the present. 
• General eye problems or Astigmatism can represent that you aren't looking at something clearly, or don't want to discover something.  A symbolic gesture that may help you open up is to clean the windows in your house. 
• Cataracts can represents the need for approval from others.  Tied to rejection and hurt by others. Try to improve your self-esteem/self-worth.
• Nearsightedness can represent a tendency to live in the moment and not plan for the future, or a fear of the future.
•  Farsightedness can represent a tendency to plan for the future and focus on "what-if's" and not being able to live in the present moment or a fear of the present. 
• General eye problems or Astigmatism can represent that you aren't looking at something clearly, or don't want to discover something.  A symbolic gesture that may help you open up is to clean the windows in your house. 
•  Cataracts can also represent an inability to see joy in your future.  
• An eye sty can represent anger at someone or looking at a situation through angry eyes. 

FOOD MEDICINE 
Not all recipes are nutritionally perfect, but the options below are a great way to start incorporating beneficial foods into your diet in delicious ways. Always try to buy organic, and feel free to make substitutions to accommodate gluten-free, vegan, etc diets.

Abbreviation Definitions:
LC = Low Calorie (under 400 for breakfast, 600 for lunch/dinner, and 200 for beverages/sides/snacks)
GF = Gluten Free
KT = Keto / Low Carb
VG = Vegan
VT = Vegetarian

BEVERAGES

Apple-Orange Smoothie (GF VG VT)

Blueberry Peach Smoothie (LC GF VG VT)

Blueberry-Pomegranate Smoothie (LC GF VT)

Golden Milk (LC GF VG VT)

Mango Pineapple Smoothie (LC GF VG VT)

Mega-Greens Smoothie (GF VT)

Soothing Elixir (LC GF VG VT)

Superfruit Smoothie (GF VG VT)

Banana-Blueberry Smoothie (GF VT)

Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie (GF VT)

Brain Smoothie (GF VG VT)

Green Smoothie (LC GF VT)

Mango-Banana Smoothie (GF VT)

Peach-Banana Smoothie (LC GF VT)

Sunrise Smoothie (LC GF VG VT)

Tropical Smoothie (LC GF VG VT)

Basic Fruit Smoothie (LC GF VG VT)

Blueberry Smoothie (LC GF VG VT)

Cranberry-Blueberry Smoothie (GF VT)

Mango Lassi (GF VT)

Mango-Blueberry Smoothie (GF VT)

Peach-Berry Smoothie (LC GF VT)

Super Skin Smoothie (GF VT)

MAINS

3 Bean Soup (LC GF VG VT)

Avocado & Egg Toast (LC GF KT VT)

Black Bean Chili (LC VG VT)

Buddha Bowl (GF VG VT)

Chicken Dumpling Soup (LC)

Cornmeal & Pecan Crusted Fish (LC)

Harissa Marinated Shrimp (LC GF KT)

Lemon Chicken (LC GF KT)

Mung Beans and Rice (LC GF VG VT)

Pasta Fagioli (LC VG VT)

Salmon with Red Pepper Sauce (LC GF)

Shrimp with Homemade Red Sauce (LC GF)

Spiced Lentil Soup (LC GF VG VT)

Tilapia with Balsamic Brown Butter (LC KT)

Vegan Bulk Spaghetti Sauce (LC GF VG VT)

Vegetable Broth (LC GF VG VT)

Veggie Omelet (LC GF KT VT)

Adult Ramen (LC GF VG VT)

Balsamic Glazed Chicken (LC GF KT)

Black Bean Soup (LC GF VG VT)

Chicken & Potatoes with Mustard Vinaigrette (LC GF)

Chickpea Salad Sandwich (GF VG VT)

Edamame Rice Bowl (LC GF VG VT)

Healthy Scrambled Eggs (LC GF KT VT)

MahiMahi with Cucumber-Dill Sauce (LC GF)

Oven-Fried Fish (LC KT)

Roasted Red Pepper Lasagna (LC VG VT)

Sesame Salmon (LC GF KT)

Shrimp Scampi (LC GF KT)

Spicy Black Bean Soup (LC GF VG VT)

Turkey BLT with Avocado & Sprouts (LC)

Vegan Jambalaya (LC GF VG VT)

Vegetable Curry (LC GF KT VG VT)

White Bean & Spinach Soup (LC GF)

Asian Broccoli & Rice Bowl (LC GF VG VT)

Black Bean Bowl (LC GF)

Blueberry Mini Muffins (LC GF VT)

Chicken Bone Broth (LC GF)

Cilantro Lime Shrimp (LC GF KT)

Garlic Soup (LC GF VG VT)

Instant Pot Chickpea Curry (LC GF VG VT)

Mujaddara (LC GF VG VT)

Pasta Della California (LC GF VG VT)

Salmon with Avocado Salsa (LC GF)

Shrimp Power Bowl (GF)

Soy Chicken (LC GF KT)

Steamed Snow Crab Legs (LC GF KT)

Vegan Black Bean Bowl (LC GF VG VT)

Vegan Mac & Cheese (LC VG VT)

Vegetarian Chili (LC GF VG VT)

White Chili (LC GF VT)

SIDES

Asian Cabbage Salad (LC GF VG VT)

Bruschetta (LC, VG, VT)

Cannellini and Tomato Crostini (VG VT)

Dill Vinaigrette Greens (LC GF VG VT KT)

Favetta & Pita Triangles (GF VG VT)

Guacamole (GF KT VG VT)

Kale Salad with Sesame Dressing (LC GF VG VT)

Molasses Beans (LC GF)

Pesto Vegetables (LC GF VG VT KT)

Ranch Potato Wedges (LC GF VG VT)

Roasted Broccoli (LC GF VG VT)

Roasted Carrots (LC GF VG VT)

Rosemary Red Potatoes (LC GF VG VT)

Smoked Almonds (LC GF VG VT KT)

Steamed Edamame (LC GF VG VT)

Zattar Quinoa Salad (LC GF VG VT)

Beans & Greens Salad (LC GF VG VT)

Butternut Squash Risotto (GF VG VT)

Caraway Brussels Sprouts (LC GF VG VT KT)

Double Mashed Potatoes (LC GF VG VT)

Fried Cabbage (LC GF VG VT KT)

Homemade Salsa (LC GF VG VT)

Mashed Sweet Potatoes (LC GF VG VT)

Panzanella (LC VG VT)

Pilau Rice (LC GF VG VT)

Red Beans & Rice (LC GF VG VT)

Roasted Brussels Sprouts (LC GF VG VT)

Roasted Chipotle Sweet Potatoes (LC GF VG VT)

Sauteed Spinach (LC GF KT VG VT)

Southwest Pasta Salad (LC VG VT)

​Three Bean Salad (LC GF VG VT)

Best Baked Potatoes (LC GF VG VT)

Cannellini & Arugula Salad (LC GF VG VT)

Creamy Kale (LC GF KT VG VT)

Farro (VG VT)

Glazed Carrots (LC GF VG VT)

Hummus & Pita Triangles (GF VG VT)

Miso Slaw (LC GF VG VT)

Pesto Potatoes (LC GF VG VT)

Quinoa Salad (LC GF VG VT)

Roasted Asparagus (LC GF VG VT KT)

Roasted Butternut Squash (LC GF VG VT)

Roasted Sweet Potatoes (LC GF VG VT)

Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes (GF VG VT)

Spinach & Strawberry Salad (LC GF VG VT)

Warm Red Cabbage Salad (LC GF VG VT)