Eye Health and Nutrition: Why Healthy Foods Are Important

Healthy foods are important for eye health and nutrition. They are essential for proper care of the eyes. Otherwise, you could harm your vision or lose it altogether. Micronutrients play an important role in keeping your eyes healthy. Read what The Herald has to say.

Eye Health & Nutrition: Improving Eye Health With Food

Proper nutrition is important for good health and emotional well-being, but did you know that it also plays a huge role in your eyes’ health? Eyes require good nutritional support for a lifetime of proper function.

As we age and expose our eyes to various environmental hazards such as UV light, good nutrition becomes critical. When it comes to healthy vision, micronutrients are most important.

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Eating foods with micronutrients will help a lot in preserving the quality of your eyes. Vitamin A, Carotenoids, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids are just some of the micronutrients beneficial to your eye health.

Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant known to help maintain healthy vision and skin, among others. It is responsible for producing the pigmented layer of the retina that aids the light-sensing rods and cones of the latter to carry on with their functions. Vegetables are the best source of Vitamin A. These include kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

Carotenoids are phytonutrients that make fruits and vegetables appear red, yellow, and orange. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that are popular for their eye health benefits. These carotenoids are often associated together as they are both found in the retina. Studies have shown that eating food with these phytonutrients lessen the chances of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Foods rich in carotenoids include eggs, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, and zucchini.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fats found in the eyes and brain. Studies have shown that these fats are key to optimal visual development. Results have also shown how people who consume more of these fats have lesser chances of developing AMD. Fish oil, flax seeds, avocados, and walnuts are rich inOmega-3 Fatty Acids.

Foods’ Role in Eye Health

Studies and statistics show that the estimated number of people with the most common eye diseases would double by 2050. This fortifies the importance of proper eye care regardless of your current eye health. After all, prevention is better than cure and what better way to protect our eyes than living a healthier lifestyle.

Incorporating healthy foods into your diet ensures your eyes receive the vitamins and nutrients they need to function best. Eating foods with Carotenoids and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, for example, helps people avoid AMD and other eye defects.

Healthy Foods Mean Healthy Eyes

Eating right helps care for your eyes and your well-being. Healthy foods include options rich in vitamins and micronutrients. Make sure you consume them regularly for a healthy vision.

Some of the food items above are considered superfoods for healthy eyes; check out this short clip by Health Sultra:

Did you know these micronutrients were actually good for your eyes? Let us know in the comments section below.

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