Eating a healthy and balanced diet is well-known as a way to keep your body healthy and in good shape; however, did you know that there are certain foods that you can eat to boost your eye health? As people age, it is natural and quite common for many people’s vision quality to lessen. The good news is that there are ways for you to naturally boost your vision and potentially negate some of the vision side effects that come alongside the aging process. It is still important to keep in mind that regardless of your diet, you must make it a priority to visit your optometrist for an eye exam in Hurst annually to biannually. Keep reading to learn about 7 power foods that will help to keep your visual health in check.
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High-fat fish
Fish that are naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids are extremely good for your eyes. These fish contain said oils in their body tissue therefore eating them can help boost these levels in your body and aid your eye health. Healthy fish oils help keep eyes moisturized and have been said to help those who suffer from dry eye. The types of fish that contain these high levels of omega-3 fatty acids are the following:
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Trout
- Mackerel
- Sardines
- Herring
- Anchovies
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Nuts and legumes
Nuts, just like fish are also very high is omega-3 fatty acids as well as high levels of vitamin E which is known to help prevent negative side effects to the eyes from aging.
The types of nuts and legumes that will benefit your eye health include:
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Cashews
- Brazil nuts
- Peanuts
- Lentils
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Seeds
Seeds are also great to eat to get in your levels of omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamin E. The seeds to eat include:
- Chia seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Flax seeds
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Leafy green vegetables
The veggies that are leafy green are high lutein as well as zeaxanthin and also offer your body good levels of vitamin C. Lutein and zeaxanthin are types of carotenoids which are not only found in these veggies but also the macula of your eye. These types of veggies include:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Collard greens
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Carrots
Carrots are full of vitamin A as well as beta carotene. The carotenoids in carrots are what give them their orange color as well as promote healthy vision and can also be found in sweet potatoes. Vitamin A is great for your eyes in that it consists of a protein known as rhodopsin, which aids the retina in the absorption of light.
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Eggs
Eggs are a very healthy food and this includes the yolk, contrary to various health myths over the years. They contain high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, which aid your eyes in the ageing process. They also contain vitamin C and E, as well as zinc.
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Beef
Beef is known to be a good source of zinc and can aid the eyes in the process of ageing as well as help protect the eyes from macular degeneration. Zinc is good for your eyes because it can help replenish natural levels of zinc, which are found in various tissues of the eye, vascular tissue that surrounds the retina as well as the retina itself.
While eating healthy can do wonders for your body and incorporating these healthy foods into a balanced diet can help keep your vision healthy, it is most important to make sure you go in for an annual to biannual eye exam. This will ensure that your doctor is able to catch any sort of eye problems early in their tracks to help prevent further damage. If you are looking for a trusted and highly recommended vision center, here at First Eye Care DFW, we can help. Contact us for an appointment today.