Foods To Boost Your Eye Health
Millions of people have some degree of vision problems, with cataracts being the leading cause of impaired vision and blindness. A cataract will cloud or cause the crystalline lens of the eye to become opaque. Macular degeneration, another eye disease equally affects people. This disease causes the macula, the part of the retina where images are focused to impair eye vision.
An eye healthy diet has been shown to lower the risk of both diseases. Deficiencies of antioxidants are implicated in the early stages of eye disease. Foods are loaded with antioxidants so let’s learn where you can get the most eye power.
More than just a carrot a day
While eating carrots is helpful, a more varied diet of vegetables will help protect against eye disease, as well as many other types of disease. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli contain high levels of phyto chemicals that help fight against cancer, protect the retina against oxidative damage, and boost the body’s immune system by helping the body to fight free radicals.
Cruciferous Vegetables…the biggest winners
- Broccoli is loaded with beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthinbeta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Eat all parts of broccoli, flower and stalk included.
- Broccoli Rabe is related to the turnip and has a bitter taste but sautéed and added to other vegetables or salad is a great way to add it to the diet.
- Brussels Sprouts are part of the cabbage family. The nutritional benefits far outweigh the strong smell of sprouts. Bake or broil them with a little olive oil and seasoning, enjoy.
- Cabbage, red or green, a delicious vegetable can be eaten raw in coleslaws and salads or soups and meat dishes. It’s benefits fight free radicals, are anti-inflammatory, cancer fighting, and help protect the eyes.
- Collard Greens can be added to soups or eaten with butter and salt, are fast becoming acknowledged as being very important for eye health. Very high in calcium, and fiber, it is loaded with.
- Kale is a nutrition powerhouse and is actually a form of cabbage. This super green leafy vegetable is a great addition to salads or soups. Its powerful ingredients fight macular degeneration and reduce cataracts.
- Kohlrabi is a low calorie vegetable, similar to a turnip, but is a member of the cabbage family. Eat it raw or cooked and enjoy the benefits of high fiber, minerals, and vitamins that it offers.
Becoming more pro-active in improving your eye health begins with you. Daily, add one of these vegetables to your diet to improve your eye health along with salmon, red peppers, and oranges.
