Tips for Eating Your Way to Better Vision
Maybe you’ve seen old Bugs Bunny cartoons, which show him eating carrots to give him improved eyesight. The foods you eat can make a major difference in boosting your vision, but carrots are far from the only good choices.
You can always benefit from having your eyes be as healthy as possible. The providers at Eye Q Optique explain more about the foods you should eat to have the healthiest vision possible.
The vitamins you need
Different foods have naturally high concentrations of vitamins that boost your vision. Although you can take vitamin supplements, getting the nutrients directly from food is the healthiest choice. (It definitely doesn’t hurt that all of them are low in calories, either.)
The vitamins you need include:
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is also known as beta-carotene. This is the nutrient that makes carrots so good for you. Other foods high in beta-carotene include raw red bell peppers, apricots, cantaloupe, spinach, mangoes, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another vitamin that’s great for your eye health. Good food sources of vitamin C include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, red peppers, and strawberries.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another one of the classes of vitamins called antioxidants, which remove oxidative stress from your body. Good food sources of vitamin E include wheat germ, almonds, peanut butter, spinach, and sunflower seeds.
Zinc
You also need zinc in your diet. Good food sources of zinc include chickpeas (garbanzo beans), beans in general, red meat, oysters, pork chops, and yogurt.
Lutein and zeaxanthin
These two nutrients pack a powerful punch when it comes to improving your vision. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, eggs, corn, kale, nectarines, papaya, romaine lettuce, spinach, and squash can help you get a healthy dose of lutein and zeaxanthin.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are a very good type of fat that your body needs. Great food sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flax seeds (or flaxseed oil), salmon, sardines, tuna, and walnuts.
If you want to improve your eyesight, include more of these foods in your diet.
The link between nutrition and vision
We already know there’s a strong link between the quality of your nutritional intake and your vision. The macula is the part of your eyes responsible for giving you clear, sharp vision, and foods that are high in lutein and zeaxanthin can make your macula stronger. Foods high in zinc can help keep your retinas healthy and protect them from damaging types of light.
Sometimes, your vision is already slightly damaged due to macular degeneration or the effects of diabetes. Here at Eye Q Optique, we can test your visual fields and determine if you should be taking additional supplements of these nutrients.
If you want to see better, it often starts with something as simple as changing your diet. Contact us at Eye Q Optique today or request an appointment online.