Your eyes are probably one of the most important senses that we should keep an eye on in terms of eating healthy. In fact, there are proven foods that are considered good for your eyesight.
Let’s start with the most famous food that is best for your eyes, the carrot!
Food 1 – Carrot
Since you were a kid, the most famous best food for your eyes will be the carrot wand why do we say that? Remember the cartoon character Bugs Bunny, eating a carrot while saying, “What’s up, doc?” Since time immemorial, the carrot was the first food that comes to mind when speaking of eye health.
This is because the carrot is a rich source of Beta-carotene, which is good for eye function and also good for the retina. The retina is a light-sensitive tissue at the back of the inner eye.
Food 2 – Tomato
Another food that is good for your eye’s health, is the tomato. If the carrot’s color is orange, due to Beta-carotene, the Tomato’s red color is due to Lycopene. Lycopene is not only good for your eyes, studies have shown that is also helps in fighting certain cancers.
Food 3 – Cold-water Fish: Salmon, Tuna and Sardines
The 3 types of fish, Salmon, Tuna and Sardines are known to have Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids have been found to help prevent cataracts and dry eyes.
A Cataract is a condition where the lens of the eyes are clouded and blurred. While Dry Eyes is a condition wherein there is lack of tears to lubricate the eyes.
Food 4 – Spinach
The spinach is not only Popeye’s wonder food for strength, it is also found that this leafy vegetable is rich in Lutein.
Humans possess Lutein in our bodies. But, it depletes with age. Why is Lutein so important? Lutein helps in the protection of the Retina by acting like a film that filters the blue light.
Food 5 – Turkey
Since we recently just celebrated thanksgiving, the most memorable food during the holiday, the turkey, is a rich source of Niacin. Niacin has a recommended daily allowance and too much of it can also be bad. Niacin can also be found in liver, beef, fish and cereal.
Niacin has been found to help in effectively preventing Cataracts.
Food 6 – Berries
Berries are found to be rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C has been found to reduce the risk of Macular Degeneration. Macular Degeneration or sometimes called AMD (Age-related macular Degeneration) is the leading cause of vision loss as we age. The older we get, the higher the risk for this degenerative condition of the eyes.
It is a disease that destroys our ability for sharp vision.
The berries are rich in Vitamin C, and these are strawberries and blueberries. It’s commonly known that oranges are rich in this vitamin, but berries are also rich in Vitamin C as well.
We only have one pair of eyes in our lifetime therefore it’s very important to always watch what we eat, and take in foods that will help our eyes stay healthy and combat these diseases and conditions that can affect our eyes.