Sea buckthorn combats the effects of too much screen time
by Helena Korte, MSc, eMBA
Let’s face it, we stare at computer screens a lot. And it’s not just the desk jockeys among us that put in a lot of screen time these days—anyone with a smart phone, which is nearly two-thirds of Americans, is guilty. As a nation, we are borderline obsessed with looking at screened objects. Whether we’re watching TV, reading novels on a tablet, sending emails on a laptop, or scrolling through Instagram on a smart phone, Americans are averaging approximately seven and a half hours of screen time daily. For many, it’s much more than that.
We may claim to love modern technology and the more “connected” world it allows us to be a part of, but if our eyes could talk, they wouldn’t be singing the same praises. Staring at screens all day places a great deal of strain on our precious peepers, contributing to headaches, difficulty focusing, dry, itchy eyes, and blurred vision.
Why does screen time wreak such havoc on our eye health? Often, when we concentrate heavily on something onscreen—anyone ever get lost in an episode of Game of Thrones?—we forget to blink. Blinking is vital to eye health: it ensures our eyes are free of debris and that they remain fully lubricated and refreshed for optimal function. Most people blink between 15-22 times per minute, but our blink rate goes down significantly when we’re engaged in screen time. This causes eye dryness and the pain, redness, itching, and gritty sensation that comes along with it.
All Eyes on Sea Buckthorn
If too much screen time is the poison, what’s the antidote? No matter how much technology advances, we can always count on nature to remain strong and steady, offering up safe solutions for modern day ailments. When it comes to eye health, fatty acids (including n-3, n-6, n-7, n-9) and other bioactive compounds from sea buckthorn berry and seed oil can help eyes feel fresh, rested, and healthy again.
A Finnish study investigated the effects of sea buckthorn oil on eye dryness in men and women between the ages of 20 and 75. For three months, participants took morning and evening doses of either a placebo or a sea buckthorn extract called SBA24, containing a standardized mixture of sea buckthorn berry and seed oil. Participants taking the SBA24 saw significantly fewer issues with redness and burning sensations associated with eye dryness. This could be due to the ability of fatty acids and other bioactive compounds in SBA24 oil to reduce inflammation and moisturize mucous membranes throughout the body.
It’s extremely difficult to obtain omega-7s through diet alone, which makes supplementing essential. The beneficial nutrients of the sea buckthorn plant are found in both the berry and seed oils, so you need a complete extract that utilizes the whole berry. Your best bet would be to take a supplement that contains the clinically studied SBA24 sea buckthorn oil, proven to relieve dry eyes and enhance your overall health in the process.
For enhanced results and more comfortable eyes, put down the smart phone once in a while. Your eyes will thank you for it.
Helena Korte, MSc, eMBA, is Managing Director of Aromtech and an expert on nutritional clinical research regarding SBA24. Korte has a degree in food biochemistry and has held MD and international business management positions in the electronics, diagnostic, and nutraceutical industries.
Article originally published in Good Health Lifestyles magazine.