Most people consider that their eyes and vision are the most valued of all their senses.
 

Although we are aware that our bodies need regular exercise and a healthy diet to keep fit and look good we tend to overlook the needs of our eyes until they begin to fail. What we should be doing is feeding our eyes with the correct foods.

 

 

  

Maintaining a good standard of physical health through exercise and diet is not only good for the body but is also beneficial to vision.

However the eyes need their own extra attention to delay, or even prevent, the onset of the many vision irregularities that can occur as we go through life.

Natural eye beauty and vision are so closely associated with each other that that it is safe to say that whatever diet or exercises are good for one will also benefit the other.

The Food We Should Eat

The effect of long term free radical damage is considered to be the greatest contributor to age related health problems and that includes vision problems.

We all know that as we age our eyesight is likely to deteriorate.

We are most likely to become increasingly long sighted, meaning we need visual aids for close work such as reading small print, short sight can worsen, the onset of cataracts may occur, this is when the lenses in the eyes can begin to gradually cloud over, and unless treated can causer blindness.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in those over 65.

Pressure of the fluid in the eye ball can increase, this condition is known as glaucoma and it also can lead to blindness, you may not even know that you have the problem as there are no obvious symptoms so however sharp you feel your vision is, get regular eye check ups at least every two years, particularly as you get older.

 

These and other related vision problems may be delayed or avoided by including in your [tag-tec]diet[/tag-tec] regular foods rich in essential carotenes, flavonoids, lutein and other beneficial natural substances that act as antioxidants.

 

These foods include-:

 

• Eggs
• Fresh fruits. Try to eat two or three servings a day
• Spinach, Broccoli and Kale and other green leaf vegetables best eaten uncooked (many are good in salads), otherwise steamed.
• Red vegetables especially carrots, best uncooked otherwise steamed.
• Berries and nuts. Blueberries prunes and raisins are very good.
• Seafood.

 

Supplements to Add to your Diet

Take Fish oil supplements daily or eat oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, etc., two or three times a week. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and other foods may reduce the risk of AMD.

There is some evidence that vegetable oils may increase the risk of vision problems so limit your intake.

Daily supplements containing Vitamins C, E, Beta-carotene and Zinc.