Health Center

Diet for Vision Health

For healthy eyes your diet must include key nutrients and antioxidants so that it may aid your vision. First ask yourself, what types of foods should I look for with the essential vitamins for eyes?

Start by emphasizing foods that contain carotenoids, which are highly nutritious chemical compounds found in many fruits and vegetables. Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid; it helps the retina's health. Zeaxanthin protects and fights the oxidative stress in the lens of the eyes. Lutein is another carotenoid; it helps the eyes easily recover from nighttime glare. Make sure however that you acquire “lutein” and not “lutein ester,” since lutein ester isn't purified.

Your best choices for getting powerful carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin are spinach and other green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and other brightly colored fruits, grapes (seeds and all), red and yellow onions, and green tea.

Another antioxidant which is also as powerful as lutein and zeaxanthin is astaxanthin. Astaxanthin helps protect the cell membranes of the eyes and helps destroy free radicals that cause damage to the cells of the eyes. Astaxanthin is found in salmon, shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and other crustaceans.

Black currant, the cousin of blueberries and cranberries, helps improve night vision. Black currant contains anthocyanosides and other flavonoids to help improve circulation for the eyes.

A balanced diet along with supplementation of astaxanthin, black currant, lutein, and zeaxanthin may improve night vision, as well as put an end to dry, tired eyes.

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