Eating a good balanced diet and following these simple steps can help reduce the chances that you will need stronger prescription glasses, or even need them at all. We often hear about healthy eating and lifestyles to protect your sight and general health. This is a good time to remind everyone about what’s good for sight, mind and body, as the salad season approaches and we gear up our bodies for bikini-wearing diets.
Now Mum always told us that eating carrots would help us to see in the dark, and to be honest we’d still advise that good old fruit and veg are pretty good for eye health! They provide Vitamins, and the particularly useful ones are A, C and E which slow down the onset of Macular Degeneration and may help to stop cataract formation.
Anti-oxidants are what the eye needs, as they mop up free radicals which could cause cell damage. The most vulnerable structure is the retina, which is susceptible to damage from blue light. Anti-oxidants are almost like sunglasses, filtering out the blue light. We also need Zinc, for the natural pigments in the retina, and Vitamin B complex to maintain the function of the Optic nerve. Iodine is also important, to aid visual function and help to prevent dry eyes.
So what’s our shopping list for healthy eyes? There are of course supplements specifically developed for the eye, which contain everything you need to protect your eyes. The important ingredients are those vital anti-oxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which are harder to get from foods alone. If you want to include the best fruit and vegetables in your diet munch away on:
Fruits – Grapes, oranges, mango, kiwi fruit, papaya, peaches, blueberries, prunes, melon and tomatoes.
Vegetables – Spinach, butternut squash, kale, dark varieties of lettuce, courgette, sweet potato, sweetcorn, broccoli, beans and peas, sprouts, all colours of peppers, pumpkin and carrots.