Three Foods That Promote Healthy Vision
More and more research has found that the foods we eat directly affect our bodies in very specific ways. Certain foods, for example, can have particular benefits to various parts of the body. With that being said, there are certain types of foods that can promote healthy vision. In addition to having regular eye checkups, adjusting your diet could help you to adjust your vision.
As a general guideline, when eating for healthy vision, you will want to look for foods that have a high content of vitamins A,C, E, and the mineral zinc. These vitamins and minerals health to protect the eye from degenerative conditions by protecting the retina from an abundance of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that damage the proteins and DNA within cells, and the retina is especially prone to a high level of free radicals.
Foods containing large amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin are also essential to vision health. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two carotenoids the protect the eyes from harmful UV radiation. In addition, they also neutralize free radicals and improve pigment density in the macula. These two substances are usually found together in foods.
Omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is another important substance needed to protect the retinas. For starters, DHA is a naturally-occurring substance in the outer segments of retinal photoreceptors. In addition, Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Listed below are three types of foods that promote healthy vision. These foods contain the essential nutrients to help protect the eyes and promote optimal vision health.
Food # 1: Those containing high levels of Vitamins A, C, E, and zinc
These include foods such as apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, mangos, red peppers, ricotta cheese, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, grapefruit, kiwi, oranges, strawberries, almonds, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, chickpeas, oysters, pork chops, red meat, and yogurt.
Food # 2: Those containing high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin
These include foods such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, corn, eggs, kale, nectarines, oranges, papayas, romaine lettuce, spinach, and squash.
Food # 3: Those containing high levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
These include flax seed, flax seed oil, chia seeds, soybeans, halibut, salmon, mackerel, cod liver oil, herring, oysters, anchovies, caviar, sardines, tuna, and walnuts.
