Physicians have long known that good nutrition benefits your entire body, including your eyes: Be sure to include these five things in your diet to promote healthy vision:
- Leafy green vegetables. Kale and spinach are high in lutein and zeaxanthin. Other vegetables with significant amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin include romaine lettuce, collards, turnip greens, broccoli and peas.
- Citrus fruits. Oranges, tangerines, grapefruit and lemons are high in vitamin C, an antioxidant critical to eye health. Lots of other foods offer vitamin C, including peaches, red peppers, tomatoes and strawberries.
- Beans. All kinds of beans including black-eyed peas, kidney beans and lima beans, contain zinc, an essential trace mineral that is found in high concentration in the eyes. Other foods high in zinc include oysters, lean red meat, poultry and fortified cereals.
- Cold-water fish. Research shows that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acid from cold-water fish may help reduce the risk of developing eye disease later in life. These fish include salmon, tuna, sardines and halibut.
- Orange-colored vegetables and fruits. Carrots are high in beta-carotene, a nutrient that helps with night vision, as are other orange-colored fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, apricots and cantaloupe.
Article shared from the AAO.org
Author
David Greening, ABOC, BS(HONS) Ophth. Dispensing
David is a licensed optician, and has been in optics since 2002. He attained his Bachelor of Science degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing in Kent, England (2014). He has extensive experience, having managed his own practice for many years prior to arriving at Astorino & Associates Eye Center. He is a licensed American optician (ABOC) and is well-recognized for his quality of service, attention to detail, and patient care. He left our practice January 2024.
