Imagine all the simple things you can do with good vision -- pick up a piece of lint on the floor, go for a walk, watch the rain fall, pay for your groceries at the store. Any of these things would be difficult without the benefit of sight. According to the American Optometric Association, adding certain vitamins and antioxidants to your diet can reduce the risk of certain eye diseases.
Lutein and zeaxanthin can reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. These important nutrients are found in leafy green vegetables and eggs.
Vitamin C and vitamin E are both powerful antioxidants. Vitamin C is found in many citrus fruits, and has been found to reduce the development of cataracts and slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration when taken in conjunction with other essential nutrients. Vitamin E can be found in nuts and fortified cereals, and is thought to protect the eye from damage caused by free radicals.
Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to help maintain visual development and retinal function.
Zinc, an essential trace mineral, helps bring vitamin A to the retina from the liver in order to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes.
Over the last 20 years, there has been a lot of research on how to increase eye health and how to decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration. This research has found that diet and nutrition, particularly antioxidants, zinc, and nutrients such as lutein/zeaxanthin play a vital role in the health of your eyes.
