Diets For Healthy Eyes Vision

Understanding eye health and ocular nutrition can be one of the ways to support the vision. As early as in our 30's, our eyes and vision can gradually begin to deteriorate. Wind, automobile fumes, chlorine fumes, dust, smoking, freezing temperatures and physical injury are examples of threats to healthy eyes and good vision. Long hours spent at a computer screen and the vibration from regular driving have a cumulative negative impact on eye health over time.



Healthy vision is related to the health of the individual parts of the eye; the cornea, macula, iris, lens, optic nerve, pupil, retina and the vitreous humor; and making good eye health and ocular nutrition food choices are one of the best ways that good vision can be supported. Information provided by the National Eye Institute and the results of other eye health studies and ocular nutrition has shown that using nutrition to improve and support eye health definitely happens.



There are some foods that are known to support and improve eye health, such as:

kale and spinach, Collard greens-- studies on eye health and ocular nutrition show that eating foods rich in carotenoids is associated with reduced risk of developing age related macular degeneration. Foods rich in carotenoids are leafy green vegetables such as collard greens, spinach and kale. Macular eye nutrition becomes increasingly important as people get older.

Corn and Green vegetables-- another study on eye health and ocular nutrition has shown a reduced risk of developing cataracts for persons having diets higher in zeaxanthin and lutein. Foods high in these two carotenoids include broccoli, collard greens, green peas, corn, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens and zucchini. Lutein can also be found in egg yolks. People with diets high in zeaxanthin and lutein were also less likely to need cataract surgery. In another study done on people ages 40-59, those with diets high in zeaxanthin and lutein experienced a reduced risk of developing adult macular degeneration.

Apricots, blueberries and bilberries-- apricots are rich in lycopene and beta carotene that help promote good vision. Beta carotene is converted by the body to vitamin A as needed, which is an important antioxidant that resists oxidative stress damage to cells and tissues including the eye lenses. Continued oxidative stress may result in the development of cataracts or damage the blood supply to the ocular tissues and lead to macular degeneration. Eating blueberries has been associated with the reduction of ocular fatigue. Blueberries are related to cranberries, and they also help the body to resist urinary tract infections. Bilberries are form of wild blueberry that generally grows on small bushes. Bilberries were used by British pilots to improve their night vision during World War II. Bilberry jams and fresh bilberries would be sources of this ocular nutrition and eye health food. Bilberry seems to improve eye health by increasing the blood supply to the ocular tissues.

The eyes are considered to be the most important part of the sense organs. By knowing which eye health and ocular nutrition food choices support the eyes, people can include more of these foods in daily meal planning.

• John Palsson
• 21/11/2008, 12:09 AM
• 0 Comments