Talking About Eye Exams

Posted on: 28 November 2016

From reading and watching television to driving and making memories, your eyes are an important part of your physical and emotional wellness. While you may visit your eye doctor annually for basic exams, other tasks can help improve the underlying health of your eyes and vision.  Although shocking for most people to learn, eating well and adding a few key supplements to your diet can improve your eye health. Of course, you may not know where to get started. Use this guide to eat your way to healthy eyes and better vision.

Menu

You probably have heard the saying, "you are what you eat," and this saying is very true. Eating a well-balanced diet consisting of protein and nutrient-rich foods will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, but incorporating certain foods to your diet will also improve your eye health.

To get started, make sure your daily menu consists of the following:

• Vitamins A, C, E – Spinach, strawberries, carrots, almonds, and kale are all rich in vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamin-rich foods strengthen the cornea and lens, reducing your risk of vision impairments, glaucoma, and cataracts.
• Antioxidants – Green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collars are loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the macula of your eye from the sun's harmful UV rays.
• Sulfur, Lecithin, and  Cysteine – Reduce your risk of cataracts by adding garlic, onions, and shallots to your daily menu. These ingredients contain sulfur, cysteine, and lecithin, which are important for the lens of your eyes.
• DHA – Lastly, make sure to eat foods that contain DHA. Found in salmon, mackerel, herring, cod, and sardines, this fatty acid improves the strength of the eye's cell membranes.

Supplements

Unfortunately, eating the above foods each day can be challenging for some people, so make sure to stock your medicine cabinet with eye care supplements.

A daily fish oil supplement is a smart way to ensure your body receives a sufficient amount of DHA. In addition, a multi-vitamin that offers essential vitamins is beneficial for your eye health and vision.

Coleus supplements contain forskolin, which reduces moisture in your eye. Although it keeps debris out of your eye, an excessive amount of moisture can build up in your eye, resulting in the pressure that causes glaucoma.

Add a ginkgo supplement to your daily routine, as well. Ginkgo improves your body's circulation of blood. This improved circulation will also decrease your risk of glaucoma and vision impairment

Eating the right foods and supplementing your diet can improve the health of your eyes drastically. Use this guide and the help of your doctor to protect your eye health and prevent future eye problems.