Foods high in vitamins and carotenoids are a great way to protect your eyes from age-related diseases like AMD and cataracts and promote good eye health in general. These eye diseases are so prolific, they’re accepted as a common part of the ageing process and why it’s so important to ensure our eyes get the nutrients they need.
Incorporating the right mix of nutritional foods into your diet will help your eyes stay healthier for longer and if you’re already a sufferer from an age-related eye disease, they are a great way to prevent any further vision loss.
1. Kale
Arguably one of the best foods to age-proof your eyes, containing two of the three carotenoids . The leafy veg is also high in vitamin E which protects against free-radical damage.
2. Eggs
The superfood contains high levels of glutathione, a natural antioxidant. The yolk contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids vital for eye health.
3. Orange Juice
The drink is high in vitamin C, which is shown to reduce the risk of AMD and cataracts, a powerful antioxidant which helps the body produce collagen, a protein found in the cornea of the eye.
4. Salmon
The oily fish has high levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids which support visual development. The National Eye Institute reports that people with the highest level of fatty acids in their diet have a 30% less chance of macular degeneration.
5. Pork
High in zinc, great for aiding the creation of the protective pigment for the eyes and helping the body absorb antioxidants for healthy eyes.
6. Tomatos
High in vitamin A, which supports eyes health and contains the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin a great one for eye protection.
7. Corn
High in vitamin A, which supports eyes health and contains the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin a great one for eye protection.
These vibrant foods contain all you need to help support your eye health. Carotenoids are effective at reducing the risk of eye disease. They are the plant pigments which are responsible for the colour of the food, which is why our recommendations are so colorful! This presents a good rule of thumb to follow, a vibrantly coloured fruit or veg is likely to contain carotenoids and thus will be good for your eye health!