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They are said to be the 'windows to our souls'. Looking your friends and
loved ones in the eye, you can gauge their mood and the emotions they
are feeling. But taking a more critical look can reveal a host of
underlying potential health problems.
Stubborn dark circles sweeping to your cheeks, and red, pain stained
bloodshot eyes are something most people will be familiar with.
And while the immediate assumption we jump to is a lack of sleep,
nutritionists tell MailOnline that dark circles and bloodshot eyes can
be a sign of anaemia, food intolerances and serious eye conditions, such
as glaucoma.
Furthermore, if the whites of your eyes appear yellow, experts warn it
can be a sign of the potentially fatal liver disease, hepatitis as well
as jaundice and liver dysfunction.
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Here we reveal the five seemingly harmless ways your eyes can reveal
underlying health conditions...
DARK CIRCLES
Dark circles under the eyes are one of the most common eye issues that
women struggle with.
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We are all aware that lack of sleep is perhaps the most obvious culprit.
And we've all experienced the mad rush the morning after a late night,
applying thick concealer to try and mask exhaustion.
On average, sleep experts agree, seven or eight hours a night of good
quality sleep is best.
And that should be enough to erase the dark circles. But, nutritionists
warn, if sleep isn't enough to help, it could indicate a series of other
health issues.
‘There are two potential health causes: thyroid problems or anaemia,'
nutritionist Cassandra Barns told MailOnline.
'If you’re confident that you’re getting enough sleep but are still
feeling excessively tired, which can be a symptom of both these
conditions, and the dark circles just won’t go, then see your doctor to
get tested for both of these conditions.'
Often replenishing your iron levels can help anaemia.
‘To get the most of iron from foods include in your diet red, lean meat,
liver, egg yolks, lentils, chickpeas and seeds,' Liana Bonadio,
nutritionist at nutricentre.com said.
'With this mineral, it’s not how much of it we consume, but how well we
absorb it.
'Coffee and tea can significantly slow down its absorption, so you might
want to cut down on them.
'On the other hand, vitamin C can help the absorption, so reach for red
peppers, broccoli, kale and berries.'
She said iron supplements can also help reverse deficiency.
In addition another common cause of dark circles is food intolerances,
especially to wheat, gluten or cow’s milk.
Dr Marilyn Glenville, a leading nutritionist, said: ‘Try cutting out one
of these for a period of one month to see if this helps.
'If you decide to eliminate one (or more) of these foods long-term, it
is best to work with a nutritional practitioner who can give you a
healthy food programme to make sure you are not missing out on any
nutrients.’
YELLOW WHITES OF THE EYES
As with many other eye symptoms, it is important to see your doctor if
the whites of your eyes look yellow.
The symptom can be a sign of potentially fatal liver disease, and should
not be ignored, experts told MailOnline.
Ms Barns said: 'This can potentially be due to conditions such as
hepatitis, liver dysfunction, bile duct obstruction or jaundice.'
If you have seen your doctor and ruled out these causes, then most
likely, it could be that your liver needs extra support.
According to Michela Vagnini, nutritionist at naturesplus.co.uk you can
show your liver some love by following these simple steps:
Cutting down on alcohol (or giving yourself a complete break for a month
or two)
Cutting out processed foods and vegetable oils, and reducing your intake
of sugar and white flour
Increasing your vegetable intake – they provide fibre to bind bile and
toxins in the gut, as well as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to
support detoxification In particular, eating bitter greens such as
rocket and watercress, and cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage,
broccoli, kale and cauliflower
Eating eggs, onions and garlic – they provide sulphur compounds that
support liver detoxification pathways
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Taking liver support supplements that contain choline, which contributes
to normal liver function, as well as milk thistle, artichoke, broccoli
sprout concentrate, and a range of antioxidant-rich whole food extracts
Drinking warm water with a squeeze of lemon juice first thing in the
morning to cleanse your body from toxins
BLOODSHOT EYES
If you’re experiencing red or bloodshot eyes it’s wise to see your
doctor in the first instance.
'Serious conditions like conjunctivitis, blepharitis, uveitis and
glaucoma can all result in redness.’ warned Elouise Bauskis, a
nutritionist at nutricentre.com.
But, there are also other, less serious explanations often triggered by
your daily life.
For most, working at a computer for at least eight hours a day is the
norm. And as a result bloodshot eyes could be a sign of eye-strain.
We tend to blink less frequently in front of the screen – about one
third as often as we usually do.
Ms Bauskis said: ‘Make sure you’re giving your eyes a break every now
and then – at least for five to 10 minutes once an hour, and preferably
looking away and into the distance every 15 minutes or so.
'If you’re experiencing eye-strain it can also be worth having an eye
test to see if you need glasses or to have your prescription changed.'
The condition can also be caused by a weakening of the capillaries, a
condition called capillary fragility.
Ms Barns said: 'Other symptoms you may notice include nosebleeds or easy
bruising.
'If this is the cause, it’s vital to make sure you’re getting enough
vitamin C from a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli,
kale, red pepper and kiwi.'
'Taking a daily supplement of vitamin C with bioflavonoids could also be
helpful.'
Bloodshot eyes, like itchy eyes, can also be the result of an allergy.
‘If you’re also experiencing other allergic or hay fever-type symptoms
such as sneezing or general eye irritation, then try a Quercetin-based
(a natural antihistamine) supplement that will bring relief.’ said Ms
Vagnini.
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DRY EYES
For many, the uncomfortable feeling of having sand in the eyes is a
familiar one.
The gritty feeling could be a sign you're suffering dry eye syndrome, Ms
Burns told MailOnline.
She said: ‘This gritty sensation may be caused by age, for example in
post-menopausal women, taking certain medications, environmental factors
as well as deficiency in vitamin A.
'True vitamin A is only found in animal foods – especially liver, other
organ meats and cod liver oil; with some in egg yolks, butter, fish,
other meats and grass-fed dairy products.
'Although vegetables are often said to contain vitamin A, they don’t –
they only contain beta-carotene or ‘pro-vitamin A’, which the body may
only convert to vitamin A in very small amounts, as little as three per
cent.’
So, how can we top up vitamin A levels?
Sharon Morey, a nutritionist at Quest Vitamins, told MailOnline the best
way is to eat a small serving of liver once or twice a week.
Failing that, she said: 'Take a good-quality cod liver oil supplement or
make sure you're regularly eating the other animal foods listed above.
'When choosing a cod liver oil supplement, go for one that contains
naturally occurring vitamin A, to help lubricate your eyes.'
Another contributing factor to dry eyes may be lack of healthy fats in
your diet, potentially because you need fats to actually absorb vitamin
A from your foods, Ms Bauskis said.
‘Most of the foods listed above as good sources of vitamin A are good
sources of fats too, which makes sense – nature gives us nutrients that
work in synergy with each other.
'Again, if you can’t eat these foods, then making sure you have enough
good fats in your diet from other sources is essential – think coconut
oil, avocados, olive oil and nuts and seeds.‘ she said.
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Lastly, another cause for dry eyes can be a condition called Sjögren’s
syndrome.
‘This is an autoimmune condition that can affect many areas of the body
but particularly the glands that produce saliva and tears.
'If you suffer from Sjögren’s syndrome then it is best to work with a
nutritional practitioner or doctor who can work with you to tackle the
underlying immune imbalance’ said Ms Barns.
PUFFY EYES
As well as dark circles adorning your face, another sign you've not had
enough shut eye, is the puffy, pillow-like cushions that appear like
bags.
Many will have tried a cooling cucumber slice, or a teabag from the
freezer to try and relieve the puffy look.
But, when that fails, it can be a sign that more serious health problems
are to blame.
Ms Bauskis told MailOnline: ‘Puffy eyes may be related to an imbalance
between sodium and potassium in your diet – specifically, too much
sodium, which means basically salt.
'Most processed foods tend to be high in added salt, providing high
doses of sodium but very little potassium – these include breads,
cereals, sauces, processed meats and snack foods.
'In contrast, vegetables contain much more potassium than sodium and
better match the natural balance that we should be getting.
'So cutting down on processed foods, avoiding adding salt to your foods
and increasing your fresh vegetable intake can help.'
In addition, puffy eyes can also be a sign that you're kidneys require
extra support.
‘Drinking enough water is the most important step here, to ensure you’re
well hydrated,' said Ms Vagnini.
'Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which are diuretics and can make the
problem worse.
'Nettle and dandelion leaf teas can also be beneficial.'
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