Five Tips for Healthier Eyes

We all know how important a healthy diet is when thinking about our general health, but how about nutrients that are particularly beneficial to maintaining eye health? Some studies claim that a healthy diet can help prevent, and in some cases even reverse, certain eye conditions. For example, the old wives tale about eating carrots to help us see in the dark has some basis in fact as carrots contain beta-carotene which helps to make Vitamin A, a very important vitamin for healthy eyes as it can help to slow down age-related macular degeneration, as well as lowering the risk of cataracts.

Carrots aren’t the only food that is good for our eyes. Here are 5 ways you can improve your diet:

–          Omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent age-related macular degeneration and reduce the inflammation that can cause dry eyes. They can be found in oily fish, such as mackerel, halibut and salmon, as well as in soy beans and walnuts.

–          Vitamin C can also help prevent macular degeneration, as well as glaucoma, cataracts and vision loss. It can be found in many fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, kiwis, peppers and broccoli.

–          Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the eyes from being damaged by free-radicals. Eating foods high in Vitamin E can slow down the progression of cataracts and help keep the eyes lubricated. It can be found in sunflower seeds, tomatoes, pine nuts and wheat germ.

–          Zinc can help the body release Vitamin A and aids in antioxidant enzyme function which keeps the eye tissue healthy and protects the eye from macular degeneration and night-blindness. It can be found in seafood, spinach, beans and lentils.

–          Vitamin D can help slow down ageing in the eye by improving vision and reducing inflammation of the retina, along with other age-related eye defects. Vitamin D can be found in salmon, milk, eggs and mushrooms, and can be taken as a supplement.

A healthy diet can be of benefit to the whole body and it’s never too late to make a few small changes that are not only beneficial to our health, but delicious too.

Nothing in this blog post is to be construed as medical advice, nor is it intended to replace the recommendations of a medical professional. For specific questions, please see your eye care practitioner.