Healthy Eating Leads to Healthy Eyes

The United States Center for Disease Control estimates that nearly 21 million Americans suffer from some sort of vision or eye impairment. And while there are many eye conditions that cannot be prevented, only treated, there are several things that you can do to keep your eyes healthy. Eating well is one of them.

Vision loss is one of the top 10 disabilities for adults in the US, which is why it’s crucial that you take the appropriate steps to ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep your eyes healthy. According to Everyday Health, “Studies have suggested that getting a high dose of nutrients like lutein, Omega 3 fatty acids and lycopene can help lower your risk of developing macular degeneration by up to 25 percent.”

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson Judy Caplan said, “Eating well affects the entire body. The same foods that have a preventive effect on the eyes will also positively affect other body systems. Everything works synergistically.”

It’s that symbiotic relationship between your diet and your health which is why a diet high in Vitamin A is highly beneficial. Foods like kale, spinach and collards are especially good for your eyes, but because they are antioxidant-heavy, they are great for the rest of your body.

Natural chemicals like beta carotene (often found in carrots) and lycopene (often found in tomatoes) are also important to maintaining healthy eyes. And like many other foods, they are beneficial to the rest of the body as well.

For more information about keeping your eyes health in conjunction with a healthy diet, please read Everyday Health’s “6 Best Foods For Your Eyes.”