Nutrition for your Eyesight

The news that good nutrition can positively affect your health and can help prevent certain diseases is nothing new. However, the inclusion of eye health in considerations of general health is a notion that has lagged behind in the public consciousness. Not only is vision a critical part of the senses that most people rely upon every day, eye health can be reflective of general health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Fortunately, you can help to safeguard your vision simply by making healthy food choices i.e. eating your fruits and vegetables. That’s right, proper nutrition not only positively impacts your general health; it also has specific applications to eye health. Proteins, vitamins and antioxidants all play a role in reducing the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts and may even delay the onset or prevent eye disease like glaucoma.

In fact, data produced by the USDA, Department of Agricultural Research Service, suggests that these nutritional powerhouses may not only avert or slow the onset of a number of eye diseases, good nutrition can help prevent further damage for those already diagnosed with macular degeneration. This means that it is never too late to begin healthy eating habits because there is a continued advantage to changing your diet regardless of your age or your current eye health. The time to start eating right is right now. There are three big nutrients that help lead to good eye health:

The foods that make the list for promoting eye health include those you might expect and some that you may not. You are probably familiar with the impact of carrots on eyesight; this Vitamin A originator has long been linked in popular culture with good vision. However, yams, sweet potatoes and other bright orange fruits and vegetables all contribute their beta-carotene power to eye health.

Dark green vegetables such as spinach, kale, mustard greens, broccoli, brussel sprouts and collard greens are all also amazing sources of vitamin C, lutein and lycopene, essential to healthy vision. Other sources of this powerful vitamin combination are citrus fruits and vegetables like strawberries, tomatoes and orange juice.

Omega-3’s are important as well, and can be found in cold-water fish, and walnuts and flax seeds. This group has the additional benefit of helping to ease the symptoms of dry eye syndrome and protecting against macular degeneration. Finally, eggs and avocados round out the list by providing Vitamin E, which has been shown to reduce the effects of sun damage.

Currently, approximately 20 percent of Americans aged 65-74 have cataracts related to aging and 46 percent of those 75 and up have impaired vision from this disease. It is clear that this condition is not only common; it is very likely to occur. Preventing the onset of eye disease and mitigating any damage that has already occurred needs to become a health priority for everyone. Especially since the preventative treatment is as easy as a trip down the produce isle.

Sources: ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/aug03/eye0803.htm

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/, WebMd.com

About the Author

This is a guest post from Brett Oliveira. Brett works with BuyMoreContacts.com where you can find discount contact lenses online in a variety of brands including Acuvue Oasys, Biofinity, and Purevision.