Daily vitamin intake might seem innocuous and normal, but what many people don’t know is that vitamin mistakes might be one of the causes of severe visual impairment. Vitamins and supplements are a multibillion-dollar industry Americans spend $28 billion a year on. A whopping 68% of adult Americans take pills and dietary supplements and most of these make vitamin mistakes of ignoring the label, taking synthetics, and taking the wrong dosage. Fortunately, you can find out how to avoid how properly take vitamins and prevent vision impairment.

Prevent Visual Impairment and Take Vitamins Properly

1. Always Check the Label

You must know where the supplement comes from. It’s quite easy to buy supplements through the internet and these pills can promise all sorts of health benefits without the proper FDA approval. The truth is, a lot of these so-called supplements are contaminated with harmful chemicals, such as lead and arsenic, leading to eye diseases with vision loss. That’s why it’s important to always check the label, even the ones on shelves, as a lot of these items are actually sourced from China.

2. Avoid Synthetics

The daily dose of vitamin-in-a-bottle carries a lot of synthetic ingredients and harmful additives such as:

• magnesium silicate: mostly found in deodorants
• hydrogenated oils: such as trans fat found in margarine
• artificial coloring: found in a lot of vitamins for children

These ingredients can lead to visual disorder and low vision instead of improving your central visual acuity. If the label contains a long list of ingredients for something supposedly natural, maybe it’s time to reconsider taking it. So, you’re better off spending on high-quality fresh food that will actually do the body good to avoid visual impairment.

3. Take the Proper Dose

Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. If you take too much vitamin C, you run the risk of having cataracts or legal blindness. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to visual disability, such as macular degeneration and visual field loss. Yet, too much of it can also lead to liver damage.You must only take supplements under the advice of your physician. If you’re not taking it for a vitamin deficiency, chances are it’s most likely not needed by your body and cause visual impairment.

4. Take Better Care of Your Eyes Naturally

An additional step to this guide is to take good care of your body instead of relying on multivitamins alone. Take good care of the body and give it the proper vitamins through healthy foods and a more conscious lifestyle. This is the most natural and safe way to avoid becoming blind or visually impaired. Also, all of the vitamins you need must come through your diet. Some of the vegetables you can incorporate in your diet are:

• Green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and broccoli: contain lutein that can prevent macular degeneration
• Vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes: rich in beta-carotene and vitamin A

You must also reduce your intake of processed food and head towards the fresh produce aisle. If you’re a smoker, quit immediately because smoking can lead to a long list of eye diseases.

Watch this short video from Seeker to learn more about the myth of multivitamins and pill supplements!

Multivitamins and dietary supplements are items you can do without. Taking care of your eyes is an investment you can make with better food and lifestyle choices. Also, don’t forget to have regular eye check-ups!

Do you think multivitamins can help prevent visual impairments? Share your opinion in the comments section below.

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Editor’s note – This post was originally published on November 3, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.