Turmeric is a bright yellow-orange spice that is a member of the ginger family. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years to clear infections and inflammations on the inside and outside of the body. It has been found to be useful in treating liver diseases, diabetes, and eye health problems.
When it comes to eye health, turmeric has demonstrated significant effects as an herbal remedy.
Found in turmeric is an active nutrient known as curcumin, which is responsible for its bright color. Curcumin, which supports eye health, is further classified as a xanthophyll. The potent nutrients present in the eyes – zeaxanthin and lutein – are also xanthophylls. Curcumin has antioxidant properties that help alleviate the effects of oxidative stress that is associated with occasional dry eyes and other age-related eye health issues.
Check out these health benefits of turmeric for our eyes:
Helps Prevent Eye Inflammation
Turmeric supports anti-inflammatory functions. It has been used to reduce inflammation and block proteins that trigger swelling and intercept inflammatory pathways, therefore significantly increasing inflammatory responses. When it comes to eye health, turmeric’s active compound curcumin was found to be effective at treating eye diseases that are caused or aggravated by inflammation, such as cataracts, retinal degeneration, and dry eyes.
Anya Guy, a Mayo Clinic dietitian, says that:
“Turmeric has natural anti-inflammatory compounds called curcuminoids, and these curcuminoids have been associated with a positive effect on various diseases.”
Helps Prevent Glaucoma
Regular consumption of turmeric leads to a better blood glucose level thus helping us avoid symptoms of glaucoma, a condition mainly involves the loss of retinal ganglion cells, a type of neuron located near the surface of the retina. According to studies, the curcumin content of turmeric can be used as eye drops to treat the early stages of glaucoma.
Maintain Vision
Curcumin can help us manage a good vision and maintain eye health. With turmeric, we can lower our risk of getting vision problems such as myopia or hypermetropy.
Promotes Fast Recovery from Eye Redness
Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, turmeric can help us recover from redness of eyes. It works by reducing the pain caused by the redness condition, soothe the eyes, and bringing the eye color back to normal thereby clearing eye vision.
Helps Improve Retina Vessel
Turmeric has the power to improve the blood vessel around the retina in order for it to functions at its best in providing the best eye vision. Due to this, further sickness or degeneration can be avoided.
Helps Prevent Contacting Eye Virus
The antibiotic properties of turmeric work effectively to avoid eye viruses. Due to this, turmeric can be a good remedy for eliminating eye infection caused by viruses.
Helps Prevent Eye Dryness
Dry eye disease is caused by low tear production and increased evaporation, both induced by ocular surface inflammation. According to studies, the consumption of turmeric can help
inhibit inflammatory cytokines which can then decrease the feedback loop which causes dry eye disease.
How to Use Turmeric
To obtain the benefits listed above, simply drink turmeric tea prepared form turmeric powder or grated or ground, dried turmeric.
The steps to follow for making turmeric tea are:
- boil 4 cups of water
- add 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground, grated, or powdered turmeric
- allow the mixture to simmer for approximately 10 minutes
- strain the tea into a container and allow it to cool for 5 minutes
To improve it’s the taste and for more anti-microbial properties, add some honey, lemon, or lime to turmeric tea.
