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A Closer Look at Eye Health

March 03, 2014

by Anna McNulty

beta-carotene, macular degeneration, no email, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, Pycnogenol, vitamin A, zinc

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Every day starts the same. You wake up, open your eyes, look at your bedroom ceiling and start your day. Your morning routine might be repetitious, but the gift of eyesight should not be taken for granted. Your eyes cannot properly function if denied the proper nutrients. Understanding how your eyes work and remain healthy is crucial in maintaining both eye health and overall wellness.

Your eyes are susceptible to many health problems throughout a lifetime, particularly that of macular degeneration as we age. Whether eye issues have  yet to become a problem for you, the fact is is that your eyes demand good care over time in order to function properly.

Stay active by exercising regularlyExercise is a key part of any healthy routine, and is especially important for eye health. In fact, regular exercise has been shown to help reduce the risk of eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Physical activity increases heart rate, making heart muscles work more efficiently  for better blood circulation to the entire body. This includes reduced pressure to nerves including the ocular nerve within the eye. Excess ocular nerve pressure can lead to vision disorders, and in extreme cases, irreversible blindness.

In a study conducted by Tufts University, a direct link was found between healthy weight maintenance and healthy eyes. Researchers found a strong correlation between living healthy and overall eye health. Diet and exercise naturally fight the trend of obesity, which is a natural cause of type II diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes deteriorates vision in adults and can eventually lead to blindness. Committing to exercise and staying active on a daily basis is one of the best and easiest things you can do to support long-term eye health.

Maintain a diet high in nutrientsIt may seem obvious, but a diet high in nutrients naturally helps your eyes remain healthy. Leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli, for example, contain important nutrients known to combat the risk of cataracts.

Beta-carotene and Vitamin ABeta-carotene can be found in in carrots and other fruits and vegetables. It is converted into Vitamin A once inside the body and offers natural protection to the cornea, which is essential for good vision. A study performed in 2011 at Columbia University found that an altered form of Vitamin A might be able to slow the progression of Stargardt’s disease, an inherited eye disease that causes severe vision loss in young people.

Found in: Reliv Now®, Reliv Classic®,  Reliv Now® for Kids,,  Fibrestore®, Innergize!®, andSlimplicity®.

Omega-3 fatty acidsOmega-3 fatty acids are vital to eye health in early development. Found in breast milk and also added to infant formula, omega-3 fatty acids support normal and healthy vision in newborn babies. In a Harvard University study, healthy pre-term infants fed omega 3-supplemented formula showed significantly better visual acuity at 2 and 4 months compared to those who were fed formula without omega-3 fatty acids. The presence of omega-3 fatty acids in pregnant women is central to healthy vision development for their infants.

Found in: Reliv Now® for Kids, 24K ™, GlucAffect®, and ReversAge®.

ZincZinc is known as a “helper molecule” for the body. It transfers Vitamin A from the liver to the retina to produce an important chemical called melanin, a protective pigment in the eye. Found in both the retina and choroid, or the vascular tissue lying under the retina, zinc is heavily concentrated within the eye. Zinc is also associated with helping the eye see better at night.

Found in: Reliv Classic®, Reliv Now®, Reliv Now® for Kids, Slimplicity® and Innergize!®.

A Note from Dr. Carl: Achieving Eye Health Throughout Your Life

When we’re young and our eyes are healthy, it’s easy to forget about the vital function our eyes play. Many of us only realize the effect time has on our eyes later in life after much of the damage is already done. That doesn’t have to be the case.

Although some eye conditions remain genetic, the chance of developing many eye diseases can be reduced with proper care. With 22 million Americans over the age of 40 and more than half the population at age 80 having cataracts, it’s time to be aware of the nutritional needs of one of the most important organs in your body right now. Reliv can support those needs.

It’s a fact of life that our bodies wear down over time. However, just because your body is aging doesn’t mean it stops working, and that includes your eyes. ReversAge® offers youth-promoting ingredients, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, that promote eye health.

Reliv can help support healthy eyes at any age. Reliv Now® is loaded with the essential nutrition your body and eyes need, including pycnogenol and Vitamin A to remain sharp and focused throughout your day. Reliv Now® for Kids includes Omega-3 fatty acids as an extra boost for optimal eye development in children.

When it comes to eye health, let Reliv help you keep things in focus.

To your health,

Dr. Carl Hastings

Reliv Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer

This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. Reliv products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Can Good Nutrition Fight Acne?

Can Good Nutrition Fight Acne?

While Disney stars seem immune, millions of frustrated teenagers — and some adults — try to battle acne with special cleansers, toners and creams. Some products make a dent in the facial pimples while others just leave a dent in the wallet. Meanwhile, acne can leave scarring and clobbers self-esteem. Could nutrition make a difference? At one point, people pointed at French fries, pizza and chocolate as the acne instigators. Then the pendulum swung and dermatologists dismissed food’s role in acne. But in the last 10 years, doctors began looking a little more closely at the link between diet, nutrition and acne. And they’ve discovered compelling evidence that there is an association. From the Inside Out According to Georgiana Donadio, PhD, DC, MSc, program director at the National Institute of Whole Health, “Your skin is the fingerprint of what is going on inside your body, and all skin conditions, from psoriasis to aging, are the manifestations of your body’s internal needs, including its nutritional needs.” Good nutrition may not cure acne, but science shows it certainly could lessen or worsen its severity. For example, high-glycemic (high-carbohydrate) diets may worsen acne, according to an article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology from July 2010. At the same time, low-glycemic diets can impact hormonal levels and improve acne. Illustrating the effect of too many carbohydrates, scientists found people living in non-Western societies (those living off the coast of Papua New Guinea and the Aché hunter-gathers of Paraguay) are essentially acne-free. Not coincidently, they have low-glycemic diets consisting mainly of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Another study found a tie between high-glycemic index foods and acne that lasted longer, compared to trials that linked low-glycemic index diets with reduced acne risk. So limiting processed, high-carb foods — unfortunately the staple of many teenage diets — is an important step in controlling acne. But science shows other nutrients may help improve acne too. Acne-Fighting Nutrients Vitamin A and E Patients with acne often have low levels of vitamin A and E. In a study conducted by Jordan University of Science and Technology, patients with acne taking vitamin A and E improved their acne condition. Vitamin A reduces oil production while it helps maintain and repair skin tissue. Meanwhile, vitamin E helps with the absorption of vitamin A and speeds up the skin healing process. Vitamin C This antioxidant has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps the skin heal. As a bioflavonoid, vitamin C also has an antibacterial effect. Vitamin B Complex Acne can be a symptom of deficiency in many of the B vitamins. The B vitamins, including B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid) and B12 (cobalamin), are part of many important body functions including skin health. In addition, B vitamins are stress relievers — and stress can be a major player in triggering acne. Chromium Chromium helps reduce skin infections and can fight acne. Diets high in sugars (see above about high-glycemic diets) cause a loss of chromium so your body may be deficient. Zinc Sometimes acne is a symptom of a zinc deficiency. Studies show an association between a low zinc diet and the worsening or onset of acne. Zinc regulates acne-causing oil production and may help reduce the number of pimples erupting — and help heal pimples faster. Zinc is a tissue healer and fortifies skin to prevent scarring from acne. Omega 3 Another root of skin problems may be the imbalance between the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. Our Western diets are usually high in omega-6 thanks to our overconsumption of baked goods, cooking oils and other foods, while omega-3s found in fish are often lacking. This imbalance causes inflammation and the skin produces a more irritating form of oil, which can trigger acne. Whiteheads and blackheads are a common symptom of an omega-3 deficiency. Find a Balance for Better Skin Health A vitamin and mineral balance helps preserve the skin and body's overall health and hormonal balance, while supporting an optimal immune system. However, taking individual vitamins may not be a good idea. Many vitamins need other nutrients for absorption and balance. Reliv offers nutritionally balanced supplements such as Reliv Now® and Reliv Classic®, which contain many skin-enhancing vitamins. In addition, Reliv Now® for Kids includes essential fatty acids to support the health of teenage skin in the fight against acne. For nutrition on the outside, turn to Relivables™ r line of premium skincare products. With the exclusive RA7 complex and other skin-enhancing nutrients, the r line delivers the benefits of Reliv nutrition in a breakthrough topical form.