A healthy, colorful diet can help you fight back against everything from retinal damage to general vision loss. But which products should you stock in your cabinets? Here are just seven of the best foods for vision health.
Who would've thought that a hamburger would be good for you? But it's true. The zinc contained in beef products can help fight against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss in seniors.
Leafy greens provide a lot of health benefits in general, but kale is especially primed for strong eyesight. It contains both lutein and zeaxanthin, two compounds that can help fight cataracts as you get older. If you don't like kale, you can also enjoy lutein and zeaxanthin in smaller doses in spinach, lettuce and turnip greens.
They're more than just a slice of flavor for your tea! Lemons contain high amounts of vitamin C, so they're good for everything from your eyesight to your heart. You can also find vitamin C in other citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits.
According to study published in The American Academy of Ophthalmology, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce the risk of AMD. These foods include all kinds of fish, particularly salmon, mackerel and lake trout.
Another great source of zinc, sunflower seeds can help you fight off the effects of aging by reducing your risk for age-related conditions like AMD. They'll also boost your immune system thanks to the presence of vitamin E!
If you always squint in bright lights, kidney beans might be able to help. They can reduce light sensitivity by filtering harmful wavelengths from your eyes. You might also be interested in other legumes like lentils and black-eyed peas.
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It's actually a myth that carrots will improve your eyesight or give you the ability to see in the dark. That said, it's true that carrots contain a high amount of beta-carotene, and beta-carotene is essential to the production of vitamin A. You can utilize this chain of events to help you prevent cataracts.
These are just a few foods that are good for your vision. Whether you're a senior trying to preserve your eyesight or a caregiver on the lookout for AMD, these foods can be integrated with a healthy diet to help you fight back against vision loss.
Aaron Dyer is associated with Home Care Assistance of Phoenix. He is focused towards helping seniors to maintain an active lifestyle for their well-being and that is what he writes about. He is a qualified nutritionist as well.