Eat a Rainbow for Eye Health

Good eyesight and healthy eyes are certainly affected by our diets. When my patients ask me what to eat for healthy eyes, I usually recommend the same healthy diet that is good for all of us. Plenty of veggies (local, seasonal, and organic is best), healthy fats, and quality animal protein.

The things that age our eyes also age the rest of us. Macular degeneration, cataracts, and retinal health are influenced by a lack of certain nutrients- lutein, zeaxathin, carotenoids, vitamins A, C, E for starters. Most of these nutrients are in the anti-oxidant category and are in those colorful veggies. The easiest way to make sure that you are getting plenty of these nutrients is to eat a lot of leafy greens along with bright yellow, red, or orange vegetables. If you are interested in adding in some variety to what's already been mentioned, there are other foods to take into consideration such as blueberries, raspberries, eggs, garlic, and even dark chocolate for the antioxidants, minerals and vitamins we all need for healthy eyes. Avocadoes, fish, and nuts are rich in healthy fatty acids that help to keep the blood vessels for the eyes healthy.

So as you can see, eating healthy for the goal of healthy eyes doesn't have to leave you with a bland and boring diet. A lot of these foods can be easily incorporated into a delicious lunch or dinner such as salmon or turkey with a side of rainbow-colored vegetables. And for all of you out there with a sweet tooth, the dark chocolate would be a great way to finish off your eye healthy meal…so happy dining everyone!

November 2014