5 Foods for Healthy Eyes (You Didn't Know About)

Let's begin with some nutrients that are linked with healthy eyes. Then we can identify foods rich in these nutrients.

Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Beta-carotene, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin E, and zinc are the main nutrients that healthy eyes depend on.

Do the first two mostly sound "Greek" to you? Actually, they do, in part, derive from Greek roots. Those first two are very strong anti-oxidants, and they both occur in a high concentration in the human eye. Beta-carotene is a sharply colored pigment (red/orange) that is a precursor to vitamin A. These nutrients are all important for eye health.

Eye Doctors Recommend:

Eye doctors know the value of good nutrition for health, and that goes for your eyes as much as for any other part of your body. Aside from actively protecting your eyes from dangers and having regular checkups, nutrition is probably the most important factor for healthy vision. Naples Ophthalmologists recommend a well balanced diet, but one rich in the nutrients that are beneficial to eye health.

Brightly Colored Fruits and Veggies

You have heard that carrots are good for your eyes, so that is no unexpected eye-health food. But the thing that makes carrots good for your eyes, is beta-carotene, and is common to all bright orange/red colored plant foods. You can get beta-carotene from bell peppers, pumpkin, tomatoes, and strawberries. The highest identified beta-carotene content in any food source is from unprocessed (crude) palm oil--ten times stronger than carrots.

Leafy Greens

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are both carotinoids like beta-carotene. Zeaxanthin, for example, gives their yellow color to corn, paprika, and saffron. But green leafy vegetables contain the highest concentrations of both these carotinoids, particularly kale and spinach.

Eggs

Yellow egg yolks provide lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin A.

Fish

Omega-3 oils are in abundance in cod livers, tuna, trout, salmon, mackerel, and anchovies.

Nuts and Seeds

Sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, take your pick. They are all loaded with vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acid. If you do not like nuts or seeds, you can get about the same boost from wheat germ oil.

The Naples ophthalmologists you will find at Naples Eye Physicians are committed to the eye health of your entire family. We are here to meet your needs as your ophthalmologists in Naples, FL. Give us a call today. How can we help you?