One of the first steps you should take to maintaining your eyesight is to eat right. Various food groups contain vitamins, minerals and nutrients that help keep your eyes in great health. Vision Care Associates, your provider of reliable emergency eye care services and other optometry products, shares five examples:
1. Kale
Dark, leafy green vegetables, such as kale, spinach, and broccoli, contain high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants are closely related to vitamin A and beta-carotene that are essential to your eye health. Studies also show that lutein and zeaxanthin prevent damage to your eyes caused by too much sun exposure.
2. Sweet Potatoes
Many certified opticians and optometrists recommend eating sweet potatoes and other orange-colored foods because of the various visual benefits they offer. They are a good source of beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A once inside your body. Vitamin A helps prevent night blindness, dry eyes, and eye infections.
3. Strawberries
Fruits from the berry and citrus families are loaded with vitamin C. Eating them regularly can strengthen your immune system, lowering your risk of developing eye infections. They are also linked with a lower risk of having cataracts in your adulthood. Some other foods for the eyes that are rich in vitamin C are bell peppers, cantaloupe and broccoli.
4. Salmon
Eating salmon and other coldwater fish can help prevent dry eyes. They contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to keeping your eyes moisturized and hydrated. Your leading provider of optical services also shares that eating fatty fish can reduce your risk of having age-related macular degeneration.
5. Green Tea
Apart from being delicious and relaxing, a cup of green tea can also do wonders for your eyes. It’s loaded with catechins, which are substances that have excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking green tea regularly can lower your risk of having cataracts and age-related macular degeneration later on.
To learn more beneficial foods for your eyes, you can reach us at (304) 315-6055. You may also complete our contact form to request an appointment. We serve Parkersburg and other areas throughout WV.