New Year's Resolution: Eye Healthy Diet

With the New Year approaching, everyone is feeling the urge to renew and revise in the spirit New Year’s resolutions. One of the most common resolutions is to become healthier or lose weight. While focusing on becoming a better you, remember the food you choose has an effect on your vision. Feeding your eyes is the most important thing you can do to ensure good vision in the long run—it should not be forgotten in the midst of slimming your waistline or to fit in your favorite pair of jeans. Fortunately, foods that promote eye health are not offending to most diet plans.

It is important to note, the food you eat can directly affect eye health, positively or conversely. A diet chock-full in fruits and vegetables, herbs, and fish will supply the essential vitamins, carotenoids, minerals and vital fatty acids to promote quality eye health. Did you know that most of diet based for heart health is essential for eye health as well? The arteries are needed to work at optimum performance to carry the necessary nutrients to the eyes.
 
On the contrary, eating foods loaded with saturated fats and sugar can lead to an accumulation of free radicals in the eye. These floating particles are the causes for many progressive eye conditions that develop with age including macular degeneration, which can eventually lead to loss of eyesight.

The main nutrients proven to aid in eye health include, vitamin A, C, E, Zinc, and Lutein. A diet rich of these nutrients are shown to have patients less likely to develop advanced age-related macular degeneration, in turn preserving vision.  The daily recommended nutrients for healthy eyes is 10 mg of Lutein, 500 mg DHA, 500 mg Vitamin C, 400 mg Vitamin E, 2 mg Copper, ansd40-80 mg of Zinc, as directed by the AOA.

A list of foods to keep eyes healthy in the New Year include: leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, salmon, nuts, lentils, poultry, blueberries, lemons, kiwis, cantaloupe, and more.

Though these foods are essential to eye health, they do not return eyesight already effected by macular degeneration. The most important fact is that taking on an eye healthy diet with help prevent or prolong eye problems that occur with age or other health issues.

A recent study estimates 8 million people at least 55 years old in the United States have intermediate or advanced macular degeneration. All vision loss may not be prevented but it is imperative to take steps to alleviate future problems through an eye healthy diet. The market is expanding into vision supplements but remember to consult an Optometrist and a Physician before taking on a new regimen.

For more information on eye health or if you think you may be at risk for macular degeneration, please contact us for an appointment.