More Than Meets the Eye: Connection Between Eye Health & Nutrition
It is believed that the eyes are the windows to the soul. In fact, the eyes provide lots of information about a person’s health. Sight is one of our most valued senses - are you doing enough to keep them healthy?
Studies have demonstrated that the risk for eye problems such as cataracts, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy often can be reduced by paying closer attention to what and how much we eat.
It’s no surprise that one of the best ways to avoid eye and vision problems is to eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables and daily exercise. Avoiding sugary drinks and highly processed foods and snacks, which can cause chronic inflammation and degenerative changes in the eye are also steps in the right direction.
ANC has compiled its top 8 eye health nutrients that researchers have linked to helping reduce the risk of certain serious eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts…. Get reading to find out more!
Eat for your eyes - Top Nutrients For Eye Health
Vitamin C - Vitamin C forms collagen, a protein that provides structure to your eyes. Observational studies suggest that this vitamin may protect against cataracts and help prevent the progression of AMD. Citrus fruits are a great source of vitamin C and ANC’s Super C 1000 product is great as a supplement substitute.
Zinc - Zinc plays a vital role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes. Impaired vision, such as poor night vision and cloudy cataracts, has been linked to zinc deficiency. Oysters and red meat are great nutritional sources of zinc - ANC’s Zinc + is a great supplement if you are considering supplementation of this nutrient.
Omega 3 - Omega-3 fatty acids also help ward off many eye diseases and help treat dry eye syndrome. Studies show consuming omega-3 fatty acids, whether in foods you eat or in a supplement, may help reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration and glaucoma.
Try our Fish Oil 1000mg OMEGA 3s or Krill Oil 1000mg to get your daily requirements.
Vitamin E - Several studies have shown evidence of the positive role vitamin E can play in improving vision. Vitamin E is believed to protect eye cells from unstable molecules called free radicals, which break down healthy eye tissue. This is what may lead to the formation of cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Try ANC’s Natural E 500IU D-Alpha-Tocopherol.
Betacarotene - Research has found that eating a carotenoid-rich diet, including beta carotene, supports eye health and prevents eye diseases. Studies have shown that people with high blood levels of carotenoids may reduce their risk of macular degeneration by up to 35 percent.
Lutein - Lutein is a carotenoid with reported anti-inflammatory properties. A large body of evidence shows that lutein has several beneficial effects, especially on eye health. In particular, lutein is known to improve or even prevent age-related macular disease which is the leading cause of blindness and vision impairment.
Zeaxanthin - Lutein and zeaxanthin work as important antioxidants in this area by protecting your eyes from harmful free radicals. It's thought that a reduction of these antioxidants over time can impair eye health. Lutein and zeaxanthin also act as a natural sunblock by absorbing excess light energy.
Anthocyanins - Eating blueberries regularly can improve vision and strengthen blood vessels in the back of the eyes. Blueberries also contain anthocyanins, which help lower both high blood pressure and inflammation and also prevent blockages in the arteries that feed oxygen to the retina.
Majority of these nutrients can be obtained from our diet, however sometimes it can be easier to source these nutrients in the form of a supplement. This is due to potential effects on absorption and requiring certain dosages for daily nutrient intake.
ANC’s top eye health products Health Eyes and Healthy Eyes Plus contain all these key nutrients to support your eye health.
With an increasing number of us working from home, here are some lifestyle tips on screen time:
- Keep an arm’s length distance between the computer screen and your face
- Taking breaks between screen time and spending too much time on devices strains your eyes.
- It is ideal that the lighting of the surroundings is brighter than your devices
