Sustenance for Sight

I love food. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I have a passion for healthy, quality food items. Many of the foods that I have grown up with are incredibly good for your eye sight, as well as good for your soul. These foods include:

• Carrots
• Sweet Potatoes
• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Almonds
• Oysters
• Spinach
• Salmon

Ok, so maybe I didn’t grow up eating oysters or salmon. But I have developed a healthy taste for them over time. All of these foods are excellent sources of vitamin A, beta carotene, zinc, omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and/or lutein, helping protect your eyes and keep them healthy.

Did you know that beta carotene, an antioxidant and precursor of vitamin A, protects the cells of your eyes from free radical damage due to pollution and excess sun exposure? Additionally, Zinc, another antioxidant, boosts your immune system, improves eye health and helps your body fight off a cold.

According to About.com, “Research indicates that nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and an antioxidant called lutein may help to reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration — a leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Other studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may help protect eyes from retinal degeneration and ease the discomfort of dry eyes.”

Make sure you’re eating right to keep your sight. The healthier the food you eat, the more likely you are you stay healthy too. Talk to your Indiana eye doctor about suggested foods for your personal eye health.