We All Know The Benefits Of Eating Well To Maintain Good General Health. But We Don’t Always Think About What Good Nutrition Can Do For Our Eyes.
There are many foods that contain nutrients and vitamins that can specifically help boost our eye health and have a positive impact on our vision. Eating certain foods can help prevent some sight-threatening eye diseases.
Foods that contain anti-oxidants, such as lutein and zeaxanthine, can protect our eyes against harmful UV rays. These foods include leafy greens, fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C such as oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, strawberries, bell peppers and broccoli.
Your mom was right about the carrots. Carrots contain beta-carotene, an anti-oxidant which can help reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and early cataracts. Other orange foods include yams and sweet potatoes.
Eating fish regularly can also be a good way to protect against age-related macular degeneration and dry eyes. Fish are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA. Omega-3’s are essential in maintaining overall health.
While some healthy foods can help maintain good eye health, there are also some foods that it is best to avoid. We should avoid foods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates as they can be a contributing factor to developing early cataracts.
Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining your eye health. Make an appointment today for your annual eye exam.
Dr Susan Issa, optometrist