Is there a link between Eye Health & Nutrition?

Monday, September 7, 2015
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Author: Gerald Quigley
Does what I eat affect the health of my eyes?
Vision change is a sensitive barometer of nutritional status of eye tissue. Specific nutrients have enormous relevance to healthy eye structures, thereby enabling their efficient function. There are a number of general dietary principles for better eye function. These principles will supply chromium, vanadium, folic acid, lipoic acid, methionine, vitamins A, C, E and B2, quercetin, zinc betacarotene and carotenoids.
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Increase your consumption of sprouted grains like mung bean and alfalfa sprouts, as well as pre-soaked grains like sunflower seeds.
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Raw, fresh nuts and seeds have many health benefits, e.g. walnuts, pecan, brazil, almonds and sunflower seeds.
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Eat more natural yoghurt, buttermilk and soft-medium, boiled, free-range eggs.
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Use olive oil in all salads instead of commercially-made salad dressings.
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Vegetables containing these nutrients include broccoli, cauliflower, celery, sweet peas, lettuce, turnip, sweet corn, cabbage and spinach.
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Fruits with great nutritional value for our eyes are lemon, lime, pineapple, apricot, fresh figs, grapes, peach, banana, dates, pawpaw, cantaloupe, berries and honeydew melon.
Age-related macular degeneration affects the tiny, central portion of our eye, which is called the macula. It's caused by a number of issues affecting the back of our eye and might cause the blockage of central vision by dark or empty spaces, straight lines appearing distorted or wavy, images becoming blurred, and colours becoming hard to distinguish.
The impact on our quality of life is almost indescribable. Reflecting on an inability to read, to enjoy television and to lose a driving licence, creates an empty world.
Antioxidant nutrients, many of which are part of in-season fruits and vegetables listed above, do play a part in minimising risk. Specifically, vitamins C and E, zinc and copper are essential. They play a role in providing nutrients to the macular region of the eye, playing a significant role in defending the eye against free radical damage in the macular region, retina and lens.
Our eyes deserve this care.
Gerald Quigley is a Community Pharmacist and media health commentator who actively seeks to empower people to take responsibility for their own health. Gerald’s additional qualification as an Accredited Herbalist enables him to adopt a holistic approach when offering advice on health matters. His website contains a great deal of helpful information ... http://www.geraldquigley.com