There’s a lot we can do to maintain healthy vision over the course of our lives. Getting regular eye exams, wearing sunglasses rated for UVA/UVB rays, and wearing safety glasses for work and sports are all good measures to ensure our eyes stay safe and sound.
But did you know one of the best ways to keep our eyes healthy for the long haul is to eat a healthy diet? There are a number of foods that provide us with the nutrients our eyes need.
Eating them on a daily basis not only contributes to our total health, but also keeps our eyes healthy and sharp. A healthy diet can also prevent diabetes which can have devastating effects on the eyes.
Try working these vitamins and the whole foods that contain them into your diet for lifelong healthy vision.
Beta-Carotene– Not only does beta-carotene improve vision and boost night vision, it actually helps prevent cataracts as we age. It’s found in carrots, apricots, sweet potatoes, leafy greens (spinach, kale, collard greens, beet greens), cantaloupe, and red peppers.
Vitamin C– This vitamin protects our eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and increases the life of our eyes. Eat anything citrus, broccoli, papaya, or strawberries to get some vitamin C.
Vitamin E– Vitamin E helps prevent eye problems like cataracts and age related macular degeneration, which occur as we get older. Find it in vegetable oils, peanut butter, almonds, and fortified cereals.
Zinc– Zinc keeps our retinas healthy. Get it from brown rice, beef and chicken, peas, almonds, and garbanzo beans.
Remember this list the next time you’re at the grocery store or your local farmers market. Your eyes will thank you!
Here at Spektacles, nothing is more important to us than our patients’ eye health. It’s vital to keep regular appointments to detect eye health problems early. Give us a call at 760-452-2895 to schedule an eye exam with one of our trusted eye care professionals. You can also visit us online at https://www.spektaclessandiego.com.
[image via flickr creative commons by jules:stonesoup (contact)]