Good nutrition is important for overall health and wellness, and plays a key role in maintaining healthy vision.
Mom always said eat your Carrots. Carrots have always been associated with improved vision and eyesight as they contain beta carotene. Beta carotene is converted by the body and used by our eyes to see light, but there are other nutrients which are just as important to our eye health.
Lutein is a key antioxidant found in high levels in the eye. Research indicates that it can slow macular degeneration. Foods which are high in lutein include leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and swiss chard as well as eggs. The recommended amount of lutein is 10mg per day which can be difficult to achieve so in many cases multivitamins are recommended.
Omega 3 has an anti inflammatory role in the body. Unfortunately our typical diet does not provide enough omega 3s. Omega 3s are found in certain fish such as salmon. Flax is also high in omega 3 BUT in many cases our body is unable to use it unless it is ground up. Omega 3s have also been indicated to help in dry eye. I recommend a minimum of 1000mg of EPA and DHA which are the active ingredients in omega 3s. High level of omega 3s may increase your risk for bleeding so if you are at risk please contact your health professional before taking.
Beta Carotene- as mentioned earlier is found in carrots and it is also found in red and yellow bell peppers as well as sweet potatoes.
Ultimately, a good rule to follow is that if it is healthy for the body it is good for the eyes.
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