The Impact of Nutrition On Eye Health

The Impact of Nutrition On Eye Health

The Impact of Nutrition On Eye Health

eye doctor

Did you know that a diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants can help you not only LOOK good, but it can help you SEE good, too? Everyone knows that carrots are good for your eyesight, but other vegetables also offer benefits that can help preserve vision as you age.

What makes carrots so beneficial to eye health? It’s the beta carotene which converts to Vitamin A and helps prevent night-blindness. Other deep orange and yellow veggies that provide the same benefit include pumpkin, sweet potatoes and red peppers.

Bright, leafy greens such as spinach and kale are loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, two very powerful antioxidants that help protect your eyes from damaging sunlight, cigarette smoke and other pollutants. Collard greens, broccoli, grapes and kiwis are also great sources of this dynamic duo.

Vitamin C is one of the easiest and tastiest antioxidants to consume! On the fruit side, you could eat grapefruit, strawberries, oranges or papayas. Veggies rich in vitamin C include Brussel sprouts, green peppers and cabbage.

Vitamin E, when combined with vitamin C, works to keep healthy tissue strong. However, it’s often something that most of us lack in our diet. Vitamin E can be found in seeds and nuts like sunflower seeds, almonds and pecans.

It’s commonly known that fish is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids which work to keep your heart and brain healthy. At least two servings of cold-water fish such as salmon, herring, sardines or tuna are recommended weekly.

Zinc keeps the retina of your eye healthy and in working order. Great sources of zinc include turkey, oysters and crab. It can also be found in other meats, eggs, peanuts and whole grains.

There are many supplements out there that contain high doses of the nutrients mentioned above to help maintain your ocular health as you age. However, they are not ideal for everyone. Before taking, you should always discuss these supplements with your eye doctor to ensure that you’re investing in a good, quality brand that will deliver the nutrients and antioxidants your eyes need.