Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of the ways to support your vision. As early as in our 30's, our eyes and vision can begin to deteriorate. Wind, dust, chlorine fumes, automobile fumes, smoking, freezing temperatures and physical injury are examples of threats to healthy eyes and good vision. Long hours spent at a computer screen and the vibration from driving have a cumulative negative impact on eye health over time.
Healthy vision is related to the health of the individual parts of the eye ? the cornea, iris, macula, lens, optic nerve, pupil, retina and the vitreous humor. And making good ocular nutrition and eye health food choices are one of the ways that good vision can be supported. Information provided by the U.S. National Eye Institute and the results of other ocular nutrition and eye health studies have shown that using nutrition to improve and support eye health definitely happens.
Here are foods that are known to support and improve eye health:
Collard greens, kale and spinach - studies on ocular nutrition and eye health show that eating foods rich in carotenoids is associated with reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. Foods rich in carotenoids are leafy green vegetables such as spinach, collard greens and kale. Macular eye nutrition becomes increasingly important as we get older.
Green vegetables and corn - another study on ocular nutrition and eye health has shown a reduced risk of developing cataracts for persons having diets higher in lutein and zeaxanthin. Foods high in these two carotenoids include broccoli, collard greens, corn, green peas, kale, romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens and zucchini. Lutein is also found in egg yolks. Persons with diets high in lutein and zeaxanthin were also less likely to need cataract surgery. In another study done on persons ages 40-59, those with diets high in lutein and zeaxanthin experienced a reduced risk of developing adult macular degeneration.
Apricots, bilberries and blueberries - apricots are rich in beta carotene and lycopene that help promote good vision. Beta carotene is converted by the body to vitamin A as needed, an important antioxidant that resists oxidative stress damage to cells and tissues including the eye lenses. Continued oxidative stress may result in the development of cataracts or damage the blood supply to the eyes and lead to macular degeneration. Eating blueberries has been associated with the reduction of eye fatigue.
Blueberries are related to cranberries, and both also help the body resist urinary tract infections. Bilberries are a form of wild blueberry that grow on small bushes. Bilberries were used by British pilots to improve their night vision during World War 2. Fresh bilberries and bilberry jams would be sources of this ocular nutrition and eye health food. Bilberry seems to improve eye health by increasing the blood supply to the eyes.
Our eyes are considered to be the most important of the senses. By knowing which ocular nutrition and eye health food choices support the eyes, you can include more of these foods in daily meal planning.
Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing.
Olinda Rola is President of Infosearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com a website of natural solutions for a variety of health problems. Visit Ocular Nutrition to read more on additional ways to obtain essential nutrients for eye health and vision support.
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
Come on, guys and gals. Those Trix are for kids.And... Read More
For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder... Read More
For most people, the concept of capsulized food? usually conjures... Read More
Like the Sun, Moon, and Earth, there are three kinds... Read More
Creating Your Target is easy.What I use to help create... Read More
Nutrition facts have become a part of everyday life because... Read More
One way to combat the boredom many people complain accompanies... Read More
Americans are literally running out of time. Achieving a work-life... Read More
After WLS we must concentrate on eating nutrient rich food.... Read More
The Mediterranean Diet is now recognized as one of the... Read More
The question most people think they need an answer to... Read More
Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More
You wouldn't judge a book by its cover, would you?You... Read More
Tired of having stare-downs with those boxes of Krispy Kremes,... Read More
Having a personal wellness program has become a concern for... Read More
In a new study published by the American Heart Association,... Read More
Originally, all foods were "organic" ? grown and prepared without... Read More
In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More
Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More
The reason I remember the first time I was served... Read More
Aging occurs when the body's cells die at faster rates... Read More
People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
The quality of food we eat (or lack thereof) has... Read More
Essential fatty acids are the number one recommendation for anyone... Read More
Arthritis - if you suffer from this illness, I don't... Read More
An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More
"The physician who knows only medicine, knows not even medicine."... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
You may have noticed an ever-expanding choice of oils at... Read More
Enzymes are the workers in our body that make everything... Read More
Manganese is a metallic mineral that was discovered by a... Read More
Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More
Glucosamine is readily produced in the human body and is... Read More
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More
Unfortunately, it has been proved beyond doubt that a large... Read More
The Human Body is in a constant flux with the... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
Finally, dieters and healthy eaters everywhere have reason to rejoice,... Read More
Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what... Read More
With the array of different diets and diet foods available... Read More
The old cliché that you are what you eat is... Read More
For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
Great news on the chocolate front! Chocolate is good for... Read More
The importance of protein in diet has been clearly established... Read More
In order to eat fewer calories than you need, you... Read More
Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant... Read More
It is often taken as a given fact that soy... Read More
They sit left behind on relish trays. They're often by-passed... Read More
Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing my 6-month old... Read More
A lot of people I've talked with about health supplements... Read More
You can start today - right now, even - on... Read More
You know about Vitamins A,C, D, E ,and the B's... Read More
For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played... Read More
The first place that we cut corners when we are... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
How is it that we can't seem to think that... Read More
Making simple changes to your food diet can help remedy... Read More
During the Second World War, the Germans used fluoride as... Read More
Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More
Nutrition |