Herbs For Your Kid’s Eye Health

Like all parts of the human body the eyes have to be nourished properly. Part of eye care is making sure that your kids are eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh herbs and vegetables, especially yellow and yellow-orange foods such as carrots, yams and cantaloupes.  You should also make sure that you and your kids are getting enouhttps://motherwe.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=333&message=7gh A, C and E and the minerals selenium and zinc.

There are several different herbs that you can take on a daily or even weekly basis can help you maintain the health of your eyes as well as herbs that can be prescribes for the various eye conditions that are described in more detail below. However although most herbs do not have side effects you really need to discuss with your doctor whether or not they are right for treating your children's eyes. That is because some kids can get sick or react to herbs.  Just because something is natural does not mean that it will not have side effects.

One herb that is not so great for the eyes?  Marijuana. According to many studies it can cause damage to the optic nerve and vital parts of the eye. Smoking tobacco can also cause macular degeneration.  This is one good reason why I do not want my teenagers anywhere near this stuff.

If the goal is to keep your eyes in good working order then try supplementing your daily diet with the following herbs:

Bayberry Bark – This vision aid is sold in capsules. It helps increase the microcirculation of the small blood vessels in the eye and also protects them from infection.

Bilberry Extract – You can get this in capsules or a delicious powder form that you can mix into a drink. It is also available as a bottled juice; although the freeze-dried extract is probably the best way to drink it. The flavonoids in it are free radical fighters that help prevent night blindness, cataracts and macular degeneration.

Eyebright – Eyebright is good for itchy or water eyes and also helps to relieve the discomfort of eyestrain. You can take it orally or use it as an eyewash. If your child has allergies and itchy red eyes you might try administering a low dose of this herb.

These herbs are often available in formulas that also include other things that are good for the eyes such as Vitamin A or Lutein.  Lots of Vitamin A, C and E are also incredibly beneficial for your eyes and you should make sure you get them from natural sources.

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Omega 3 Fish Oils and Your Child’s Brain

Omega 3 Fish Oil supplements are one of those few supplements that actually has a qualified health claim from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  The F.D.A bestowed this status on Omega 3 oils because eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids have been proven by research to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

However when it comes to kids you want to use these oils to help your kids do great in school. Lineolic acid, one of the omega-3 long chain fatty acids, may play a role in helping this supplement improve mental functions.

Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential nutrient that cannot be manufactured by the body and therefore must be obtained from supplements or food sources. As most omega-3 fatty acids have only been found in fish it makes more sense to take these acids in the form of supplements than ever. This is because fish nowadays contains excessive amounts of mercury and other toxins which I think could be a little toxic for kids.  Mercury can cause brain damage in children.  As a result I try to supplement their diets from other sources of omega oils.

Since 2000, the American Heart Association's dietary guidelines have recommended that healthy adults and children eat at least two servings of fish per week so that they can enjoy the cardiovascular benefits of ingest natural sources of omega 3's.

The main natural sources of the supplement are mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon.  These fish are special contain two omega-3 fatty acids –   eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA).

A third kind of omega 3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid, is less potent. It comes from soybeans, canola, walnut and flaxseed and oils made from those beans, nuts and seeds.

Omega 3 supplements are manufactured everywhere in the world where there are these types of fish and they are easy to find in drug stores or health stores.   In North America these oils are often made from salmon.   Wild salmon is said to have less mercury so look for that on the label.

Another study regarding fish oil was published in the journal Nutrition in April 2007. Sixty-four healthy Danish infants received either cow’s milk or infant formula supplemented with fish oil from nine to twelve months of age. It was found that those infants supplemented with fish oil had superior immune systems.

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