Eating an overall healthy diet is more than just watching your weight and remaining lean. A good diet can also be good for eyes as well. It is important to choose a wide variety of foods in order to maintain your overall health, but there are certain foods designed to keep your eyes healthy as well. Some foods are filled with nutrients that can ward off common eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Understanding which foods are good for your eyes is important when it comes to getting a good prognosis at your next optometry appointment. Here are some foods you may need to add to your diet.
Foods with Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Air pollution, sunlight, and cigarette smoke can all damage your eyes. Your eyes absorb these things and can mess up your vision. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two antioxidants that are great for your eyes. They can help protect your eyes from these damaging effects that are all around you. In order to get lutein and zeaxanthin in your diet, you need to eat more spinach and kale. Other foods with these same antioxidants include broccoli, collard greens, and kiwis.
Foods with Omega Fatty Acids
When you think of the benefits of omega fatty acids, you may think about how they can decrease cholesterol and increase your cardiovascular health. What you may not know is that it can help with chronic dry eye and other issues. In fact, there was a study done that included 20,000 women over the course of ten years. The study showed that 1,000mg of omega 3 fatty acids a day helped lower the risk of macular degeneration. You can find this type of omega fatty acid located in supplements at your local drugstore or a plentiful portion in a plate of tuna or salmon
Foods with Vitamin C and E
Cataracts are an annoying problem that plague anyone. They make it very hard to see by clouding your vision. By the age of 65, about 90% of people have a cataract. If left untreated, some people could end up losing some of their vision. In order to help reduce the risk of cataracts, you want to eat foods that are rich in Vitamin C and E. These foods can include grapefruit, corn, bell peppers, and other bright colored fruits and vegetables. While it may not eliminate the risks of cataracts, it can help reduce the chances of getting them and having to get cataract surgery.
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