The lincidence of eye disorders and diseases increases
with age. Eye problems have been linked to mal-absorption of various
nutrients needed for the eye due to an unhealthy digestive system.
Dry eye syndrome: low levels of digestive
juices
Glaucoma: lack of absorption of thiamine
(vitamin B1).
Night vision problems: chronic liver disease
(constipation)
Red and irritated eyes: lack of digestive
juices
The fact that eye problems are prevalent among the elderly
population who also have digestive problems attests to the importance of the
digestive health in healthy vision.
Your digestive system is one of the parts of your body that is often
neglected. But good health begins on the inside.
Digestion is a complex process
involving chemical and physical changes, such as breakdown of food and drinks
into their small parts, absorption of nutrients by your body, conversion of
food to energy for your body’s use, and disposal of waste materials from your
body. Your digestive tract is a long tube running from your mouth to your anus.
Make this long tract clean and you will have healthy eyes.
The Digestion Process
The digestion process begins with
your ingestion of food in your mouth. Your teeth and tongue break down or masticate
food, and your salivary glands initiate chemical digestion by immediately
secreting saliva with liquid enzymes to break down starches into sugar. Once
the food is chewed and softened, your tongue rolls it into a ball, and then
pushes it to the throat to be swallowed.
The food then passes into the
esophagus, a muscular tube connecting the mouth with the stomach. The esophagus
moves the food to the stomach by a series of muscular contractions.
When the food reaches your
stomach, the gastric acid containing enzymes mixes with the food and begins
mechanical digestion in which the food is churned to break down the proteins in
your food. Proteins are the only substances digested in the stomach, but
proteins are only partially digested in the stomach.
The undigested food then passes
into your small intestine. Bile is released from your liver to prepare the
digestion of fats, and pancreatic juice containing enzymes begins the digestion
of carbohydrates, while the digestion of your partially digested proteins
continues. In addition, the walls of your small intestine also release enzymes
to complete the digestion in your small intestine.
Nutrients from your digested food
is absorbed into blood vessels on the walls of your small intestine, and then
carried to all your body cells and organs, including your eyes.
The material that has not been
absorbed moves into the large intestine or colon. Here, water and salts are
absorbed, and the remaining solid waste, converted to fecal matter, goes out of
your body through the anus.
Incomplete Digestion
Incomplete digestion occurs when there is insufficient stomach acid to
digest proteins, and inadequate pancreatic juice to digest fats and
carbohydrates.
The presence of undigested food causes an overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria
in the lower small intestine and in the colon. The toxins from these bacteria
may begin to stress the liver, which has to work overtime to remove those
toxins produced.
Efficient Digestion
Poor digestion may cause insomnia,
which creates stress and strain for the eye. Therefore, efficient digestion
should be encouraged. Improper dentures, over-sensitive teeth, and diseased
gums may also affect your ability to chew your food adequately.
Always chew your food thoroughly.
Eat several smaller and lighter meals, instead of one or two heavy meals.
As you grow older, reduced blood supply to your small intestine may adversely
affect your capability to absorb nutrients from your food.
Do not gulp liquids, or talk, while chewing food. Always eat in a relaxed
manner—not watching the television or working on the computer. Be aware of the
taste, texture of every morsel you put into your mouth.
Eliminate dairy products from your diet, especially if you are allergic to
them; avoid too much high-fat food.
Avoid excessive eating when you are stressed.
Avoid smoking and too much alcohol drinking, which may irritate your
stomach lining.
Eat a small piece of fresh ginger with lemon before a heavy meal to
activate your salivary glands to produce enzymes to aid your digestion.
Avoid cold drinks during a meal. Drink at least half an hour before or
after, but not during, a meal.
Do not lie down immediately after a meal; do not eat before you go to bed.
Learn to follow Nature’s prescription of suitable times for your meals. Your
lunch should be the heaviest meal, since your digestive fire is at its maximum
potency. A late dinner interferes with your body’s mechanism to detoxify and
digest food from the day, making you tired the next morning you wake up. Most
importantly, eat only when you are hungry, not necessarily because it is meal
time.
Take care of your digestive health to enhance your vision health..
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
