Foods That Boost Your Eye Health

We tend to overlook one of the important senses we have been given - our eyesight. A lot of the younger generation now are wearing spectacle for poor vision caused by eye-strain due to prolonged looking at TVs, smart phones, gadgets, etc.

For the lucky ones who are still not wearing glasses because of their good eyesight, we can improve our eye health more by eating foods that are good for our eyesight. Here are some food we can include in our daily meals so we can get enough Vitamins A, E and D, lutein (an antioxidant which helps in preventing macular degeneration and cataracts), zeaxanthin (another form of antioxidant),  zinc (a mineral that helps the body produce melanin which protects our eyes from the harmful effects of UV light), omega-3 fatty acids,

carrots

egg

kale

milk

oyster

salmon

sunflower

(photo credit: ivillage.com)

Ways To Prevent Loss of Vision

Our sense of seeing is probably one of the most important senses we are trying to protect and preserve as much as we can. However, not everyone has been blessed with a good eyesight. I am really lucky (and much of it must be credited for eating the right food and not straining my eyes) to have 20/20 even in my early 40s. My daughter who is only 15 is already wearing a prescription glasses which goes higher and higher each year.

So, how do we prevent the degeneration of healthy cells in our eyes? Take note of these tips and prevent  vision loss and macular degeneration.

• Take multi-vitamin with B6, folic acid, and B12, Vitamin C and E and zinc.
• Take DHA omega-3 fatty acids supplement. If not, include omega-3 fatty acid rich food in your daily meal like salmon and avocado.
• If you are on the heavy side, loss weight as people with high LDL cholesterol, high triglycerides and those with high blood pressure are linked to macular degeneration.
• Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits especially those rich in beta-carotene like carrots, lutein and zeaxanthin.
• Quit smoking as smoker have higher risk of developing macular degeneration.
• Exercise and be active as this help nourish your retina with enough intake of oxygen.
• Do not stare on your computer's monitor, TV, portable game consoles or any small device that can strain your eyes.
• If you have a desk job which involves long hours of computer usage, try to gaze away from your monitor every 20 minutes and look at greeneries or cool colors like pastel ones to sooth your eyes.