It’s no mystery that what you put into your body directly impacts your health — after all, you are what you eat. Just as you can increase your intake of certain nutrients to improve your heart health, there are some foods that are better than others when it comes to your optic health.
At Vision and Ortho-K Center, Dr. Curtis Frank and our team have one goal — to help patients see more clearly. Aside from our extensive suite of services, we also believe in patient education, especially when it comes to preventive practices.
With that in mind, if you want to safeguard your vision, here are five nutrients (and the foods you’ll find them in) that you’d do well to make part of your daily diet. And the best part? These foods are also great for your overall health.
One of the key vitamins for promoting great eye health is vitamin A, which directly helps your vision and promotes lubrication. One of the best ways to find vitamin A is to look for foods that are orange or yellow, including:
The reason for the orange color in the plant foods in this list is the presence of beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A. This vitamin not only helps with eye cell growth, it’s great for your skin and immune system, as well.
Another great weapon in the battle for great optic health is vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that undoes some of the damage in our bodies caused by free radicals. There are plenty of foods that contain ample amounts of vitamin C, including:
As an added bonus, vitamin C does wonders for your immune system, as well.
Lutein and zeaxanthin contain antioxidants that act as sun blockers, which is critical in protecting your macula — the part of your eye that provides your central vision. To add lutein and zeaxanthin to your diet, start with these foods:
By adding more lutein and zeaxanthin to your diet, you may help ward off macular degeneration and cataracts.
Research shows that adding more omega-3 fats to your diet can help prevent age-related eye disease. Far and away, the best source of omega-3 fats are cold-water fish, including:
In addition to staving off disease, omega-3 fats support healthy tears, which is good news for those who struggle with dry eyes.
Rounding out our list of key vitamins and nutrients for optimal eye health is zinc, which is a component of essential enzymes found in your eyes. To boost your zinc intake, try some of these foods:
If you do your part by adding a few of these eye-healthy foods to your diet, and we do ours by monitoring your eye health closely during your regular eye exams, together we can protect your eyesight. To learn more, please contact our office in Boston, Massachusetts, to set up a consultation.
