One of the best ways to promote healthy eyes is through proper nutrition. That means more than just eating a bunch of carrots! Here are some of the foods you should be eating.
This fatty fish is king when it comes to omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s were found to be essential to retina health according to a recent study. Participants consuming food sources high in omega-3 fatty acids experienced a 37% reduction in age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition that can deteriorate the part of the eye called the macula over time and cause blindness. In fact, macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 60.
High in vitamin D, this popular American drink may also help to prevent the onset of macular degeneration. In a 2011 study, the Archives of Ophthalmology found that individuals with the highest amount of vitamin D (determined by a blood test) had a 40% lower risk of developing macular degeneration.
While you may think that oranges are the only way to get lots of C, there are some other options that are just as, if not more, healthy! Broccoli is one of them. Researchers in a recent study found that vitamin C was essential for nerve cells to function in the eye. Vitamin C was also found to be protective of the retina of the eye as well. In addition to its high content of vitamin C, broccoli (as well as many other fruits and vegetables) has been associated with decreased inflammation in the body through its abundance of antioxidant compounds. This, in turn, can affect overall eye health.
To see more foods click over to The Dr. Oz Show site.