Cataracts are a progressive eye condition marked by clouding of the eye’s natural lens, leading to blurry vision. If left untreated, cataracts can gradually worsen and may result in significant vision loss.
Discover natural remedies for cataracts and learn how making beneficial dietary changes can play a crucial role in supporting clear vision and healthy eyes.
What are cataracts?
Cataracts are an eye condition that occurs when the normally clear intraocular lens of the eye becomes clouded, leading to various visual disturbances.
This common eye disease is marked by a gradual loss of lens transparency, which interferes with the way light passes through the eye and reaches the retina.
As a result, individuals with developing cataracts often notice blurred vision, making everyday tasks like reading, driving, or recognizing faces more difficult.
One of the hallmark signs of cataracts is a clouded lens, which can give the appearance of looking through a foggy window.
Cataract symptoms typically develop slowly over time, often including increased sensitivity to light, seeing halos, fading or yellowing of colors.
In the early stages, the effects of cataracts may be subtle, but as lens cloudiness worsens, vision impairment becomes more noticeable and can significantly affect quality of life.
According to research published in StatPearls, cataracts are one of the most widespread eye diseases, affecting almost 20 percent of the population.1
Routine eye exams can help detect developing cataracts before they severely impact vision. In advanced cases, cataract treatment, such as surgical intervention, is often necessary to restore clear sight.
Watch the video below to discover the ultimate support for cataracts.
What causes cataracts?
Multiple factors contribute to the clouding of the lens, with aging being the most common cause, which explains the term age-related cataracts.
As the lens proteins degrade over time, they clump together, scattering light and resulting in a cloudy lens.
“Metabolic health and dietary habits also play a crucial role in the development of cataracts,” explains Dr. Berg. “Individuals with diabetes and those consuming high-carb diets are at increased risk of eye diseases, including cataracts.”
Research published in Medicine highlights a direct link between elevated blood sugar levels and increased cataract risk.2
The authors summarize, “Cataracts can be a result of long-term uncontrolled hyperglycemia and large fluctuations in blood glucose levels, both symptoms leading to an osmotic pressure imbalance inside and outside the lens.”
In addition, elevated blood glucose levels in the eye can be converted into sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that accumulates in the lens and disrupts its clarity and structural integrity.
Another key contributor is prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight, which generate oxidative stress in the lens and damage its cellular structure. This damage accelerates the breakdown of proteins, promoting cataract development.
Wearing sunglasses that block UV radiation is a simple and effective strategy for cataract prevention.
Is it possible to slow cataract progression?
While cataracts cannot be reversed, it’s possible to slow cataract formation or progression.
Lifestyle choices such as protecting the eyes from UV rays, maintaining a balanced diet, and managing underlying health conditions such as diabetes can help delay the progression of lens clouding, though these steps won’t cure cataracts.
Once vision becomes significantly impaired, cataract surgery remains the only proven treatment.
During this procedure, the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. This is an effective cataract treatment that can restore clear vision in the majority of patients.
Although there’s no current method for reversing cataracts without surgery, early detection and preventive care can help maintain visual function for as long as possible.
4 remedies to slow cataract progression
Making the right dietary choices and following a healthy lifestyle are crucial to supporting clear vision and slowing the progression of cataracts.
Here are four steps you can take to slow cataracts.
1. Follow Healthy Keto®
Elevated blood sugar levels are directly linked to an increased risk of cataracts. Therefore, it’s crucial to follow a ketogenic diet that promotes stable blood sugar levels by limiting carbohydrate intake to no more than 50 grams per day.
Healthy Keto® is an advanced version of a low-carb diet that not only focuses on carbohydrate restriction, but also emphasizes nutrient-rich, minimally processed whole foods.
By prioritizing organic produce, grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, game meat, pasture-raised eggs, organic full-fat dairy, and plenty of healthy fats, Healthy Keto offers an ideal meal plan for individuals seeking to promote eye health and manage cataracts.
Unprocessed whole foods are rich in eye-supportive nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which play a vital role in protecting the lens from oxidative damage and slowing cataract progression.
2. Prioritize antioxidant-rich foods
Consuming foods high in antioxidants can help protect your eyes from oxidative stress, a major factor in cataract formation.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which can damage the proteins in the lens and cloud vision over time.
Focus on a wide variety of low-carb fruits and vegetables such as berries, citrus fruits, spinach, kale, and bell peppers, which are excellent sources of vitamin C, a key antioxidant linked to reduced cataract risk.
Other beneficial antioxidants include lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids with potent antioxidant properties that accumulate in the eye’s lens and retina. They help filter harmful blue light and protect against oxidative damage and are found in abundance in kale, spinach, collard greens, and egg yolks.
3. Practice intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting may help slow the progression of cataracts by reducing oxidative stress, lowering inflammation, and improving blood sugar control, three key factors linked to cataract development.
In addition, fasting activates cellular repair processes known as autophagy, which may help clear out damaged proteins and cellular debris, including those that can accumulate in the lens of the eye.
Intermittent fasting also enhances insulin sensitivity and helps stabilize blood glucose levels, reducing the risk of sugar-related damage to the lens.
This has been confirmed by research published in Frontiers in Medicine highlighting the benefits of intermittent fasting in the management of various eye diseases, especially those linked to diabetes and poor blood sugar regulation.3
4. Incorporate aromatic species
Garlic, ginger, and turmeric have shown the potential to promote eye health and may help slow down cataract progression linked to elevated blood sugar levels.
A study published in the Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology found that these aromatic spices contain compounds that help block the aldose reductase. This enzyme is responsible for converting glucose into sorbitol in the ocular lens, which is a key contributor to cataract development.4
Key takeaways
While surgery remains the most effective treatment for advanced cases of cataracts, making beneficial dietary and lifestyle changes can significantly slow down their development.
Some of the best natural remedies for cataracts are a nutritious low-carb diet, such as Healthy Keto, and an emphasis on whole foods rich in antioxidants and key nutrients that protect the eyes from oxidative damage.
In addition, intermittent fasting has shown potential to enhance cellular repair and stabilize blood sugar levels, linked to slower cataract formation and better vision as you age.
FAQ
1. What are the best natural remedies for cataracts?
The best natural remedies for cataracts include following a nutrient-rich, low-carb diet like Healthy Keto®, prioritizing antioxidant-rich foods, and practicing intermittent fasting to reduce oxidative stress and support eye health.
2. Is it possible to slow cataract progression naturally?
Yes, it’s possible to slow cataract progression naturally by maintaining stable blood sugar levels with a low-carb ketogenic diet, reducing oxidative stress through a diet rich in antioxidants, and supporting cellular repair with intermittent fasting.
3. Can you get rid of cataracts without surgery?
While surgical intervention is the most common method to treat cataracts, especially advanced cases, beneficial dietary and lifestyle changes can help slow their progression and delay the need for surgery.
