Our eyes are an important organ, but looking after them doesn’t have to be difficult. A diet including fresh fruit and vegetables is beneficial to every part of our body, but there are certain foods that are great at protecting our eyes and certain lifestyle choices we should avoid.
Orange foods
It is often said that carrots help you see in the dark. Although the seeing in the dark part is actually just a myth, it is true that carrots can help overall vision. They contain Beta Carotene which the body is able to turn into Vitamin A – something very important for our eyes as without it we could end up with night blindness (the inability to see clearly or at all in low light levels).
The same goes for pumpkin, sweet potato and other orange colored foods.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Naturally found in kale, spinach, corn, peas and many more leafy green vegetables, Lutein and Zeaxanthin neutralize free radicals which can cause cataracts in the eye and may also be linked to macular degeneration. Eating foods rich in Lutein and Zeaxanthin may help improve your eye health by lowering the chance of contracting eye problems such as cataracts.
Cook up a storm in the kitchen tonight using some of the foods mentioned in this article to help maintain your eye health.
Sunshine
We all know not to look directly at the sun, but it really is important to wear sunglasses at all times when out in the sun. Even if not directly looking at it, harmful UltraViolet rays can enter our eyes and cause major damage. Sunglasses are made with a special and invisible coating which is able to filter out all of the harmful rays that the sun expels. The darkness of the lenses on your sunglasses doesn’t matter: although you may think that darker glasses will block rays better than lighter ones, this isn’t the case.
Alcohol and smoking
Drinking lots of alcohol has been linked to Macular Degeneration. As we get older the chances of developing Macular Degeneration increases, but alcohol can further increase our chances of developing the condition. Smokers have a higher chance of developing the condition, and smoking has also been linked to cataracts in the eyes.
These are simple steps we can take to ensure our eyes stay as healthy as possible. A healthy diet, low alcohol intake and not smoking are choices that can help not only our eyes, but every other part of our body also.
Amy is a writer for Direct Sight, a leading online provider of designer sunglasses, prescription and non prescription glasses online.
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