Eye health is important. And if you’re looking to add foods that support eye health to your grocery list, then look no further than this list.
The great news? Foods that are great for eye health also tend to be foods that are great for your overall health and well-being, too. The other bit of good news? Eye health foods are delicious.
Some nutrients keep the eye healthy overall, and some have been found to reduce the risk of eye diseases, says Rebecca J. Taylor, MD, an ophthalmologist.
Given this, there are certain categories or types of food that you should focus on incorporating into your diet to support eye health.
Orange-Colored Vegetables and Fruits with Vitamin A
Our retinas need vitamin A to convert light rays into images. Vitamin A also helps prevent dry eye. If you’re looking for foods with good content of vitamin A, look for the color orange.
Orange colored vegetables and fruits to incorporate into your diet include:
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Cantaloupe
- Apricots
Fruits and Vegetables for Vitamin C
Another crucial vitamin for eye health is vitamin C, an antioxidant, and may even help you to maintain eye health during aging, including focus, vision, and clarity.
You can find vitamin C in foods like:
- Oranges
- Tangerines
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Red bell peppers
Foods With Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps keep eye cells healthy. You can get your daily vitamin E in foods like:
- Avocados
- Almonds
- Sunflower seeds
Fish for Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids have many health benefits, including decreasing your risk of developing eye diseases later in life, and helping to reduce dry eyes. When looking for fish, try cold-water fish, such as:
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Sardines
- Halibut
- Trout
Leafy Green Vegetables
Your mom was right, you should be eating leafy green vegetables. Leafy greens contain antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect the macula – the part of the eye that gives us clear, detailed vision. Leafy greens with high amounts of these antioxidants include:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Romaine lettuce
- Collard greens
- Turnip greens
- Broccoli
- Peas
Beans and Other Foods High in Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that can help protect your eyes from light damage and keeps the retina healthy. Beans that are an excellent source of zinc include:
- Black-eyed peas
- Kidney beans
- Lima beans
You can also get zinc in oysters, lean red meat, poultry, and fortified cereal.
Another great way to support eye health are formulas and products from Clear Conscience, Natural Ophthalmics, and Systemic Formulas.
Clear Conscience
Clear Conscience makes a contact solution you can feel good about. That’s because Clear Conscience contact solution is cruelty-free, which means it is not tested on animals. It’s also made with environmentally-friendly ingredients and recyclable bottles, so it doesn’t harm the planet.
If you’re a contacts-wearer, try Clear Conscience’s Multi-Purpose Contact Lens Solution; or, if you suffer from red eyes, try Redness Reliever Eye Drops.
Natural Ophthalmics
Natural Ophthalmics has a wide variety of products to support optimal eye health. Some of their most popular include their Cataract Crystalline Lens Homeopathic Cineraria Eye Drops, Cataract with Cineraria Homeopathic Pellets, and Women’s Tear Stimulation Homeopathic Dry Eye Drops.
Systemic Formulas
To further support your eye health, try I Eyes from Systemic Formulas. Containing vitamin A, vitamin E, niacin, and vitamin B6, I Eyes supports the brain’s optic center and supplies nutrients necessary for healthy vision. I Eyes is designed for students, the elderly, those who do close work with computers, and those who want to support already healthy vision.
How do you support your eye health?
