Nutrition and the Eyes

• Eye health and vision can be significantly impacted upon by the diet and nutrients a person intakes every day.

  Many eye diseases are a result of inflammation and deficiencies in certain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The best foods to eat plenty of are:

  Green leafy vegetables: spinach, broccoli, rocket, cabbage

  Orange/Yellow Veges/Fruit: carrots, pumpkin, oranges, squash

  Blue/Purple Veges/Fruit: beetroot, blueberries

  Red/Pink Veges/Fruit: red grapes, cherries, raspberries, capsicum

  Fish: tuna, salmon, mackerel 3-4 times a week

  

  The recommended quantities by Dieticians Australia is 2 pieces of fruit and 5 serves (1 serve =1/2 cup) of vegetables a day. As research continues on the benefits of vision supplements in reducing the risk of eye problems (and perhaps in optimizing visual acuity in healthy eyes), it seems wise to supplement your diet with a daily “vision multivitamin” that contains many, if not all, of the following ingredients. Most of these vitamins and other nutrients play a key role in reducing the risk or slowing the progression of degenerative diseases, including chronic eye problems.

  The vitamins, minerals and other nutrients shown to the left have been shown to be essential for good vision and may protect your eyes from sight-threatening conditions and diseases.

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• Essential Vitamins & Minerals for Good Vision

  BETA-CAROTENE
  Eye benefits: May protect against night blindness and dry eyes.
  Food sources: Carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, butternut squash.
  RDA: None (Most supplements contain 5,000 to 25,000 IU).
  
  
  BIOFLAVONOIDS (FLAVONOIDS)
  Eye benefits: May protect against cataracts and macular degeneration.
  Food sources: tea, red wine, citrus fruits, bilberries, blueberries, cherries, legumes, soy products.
  RDA: None.
  
  
  LUTEIN AND ZEAXANTHIN
  Eye benefits: May prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.
  Food sources: Spinach, kale, turnip greens, collard greens, squash.
  RDA: 6-10mg
  
  
  OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
  Eye benefits: May help prevent macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eyes.
  Food sources: Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna; flaxseed oil and fish oil; ground flaxseeds and walnuts.
  RDA: None. (For cardiovascular benefits, the American Heart Association recommends approximately 1,000 mg daily.)
  
  
  SELENIUM
  Eye benefits: When combined with carotenoids and vitamins C and E, may reduce risk of advanced AMD.
  Food sources: Seafood (prawns, crab, salmon, halibut); Brazil nuts; enriched noodles; brown rice.
  RDA: 55 mcg for teens and adults (60 mcg for women during pregnancy and 70 mcg when breast-feeding).
  
  
  VITAMIN A
  Eye benefits: May protect against night blindness and dry eyes.
  Food sources: Beef or chicken liver, cod liver oil, eggs, butter, milk.
  RDA: 3,000 IU for men; 2,333 IU for women (2,567 IU during pregnancy and 4,333 IU when breast-feeding).
  
  
  VITAMIN C
  Eye benefits: May reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.
  Food sources: Sweet peppers (red or green), kale, strawberries, broccoli, oranges, cantaloupe.
  RDA: 90 mg for men; 70 mg for women (85 mg during pregnancy and 120 mg when breast-feeding).
  
  
  VITAMIN D
  Eye benefits: May reduce the risk of macular degeneration.
  Food sources: Salmon, sardines, mackerel, milk, orange juice fortified with vitamin D.
  RDA: None. The best source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight. UV from the sun stimulates production of vitamin D in human skin, and just a few minutes of exposure to sunlight each day (without sunscreen) will insure your body is producing adequate amounts of vitamin D.
  
  
  VITAMIN E
  Eye benefits: When combined with carotenoids and vitamin C, may reduce the risk of advanced AMD.
  Food sources: almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts.
  RDA: 15 mg for teens and adults (15 mg for women during pregnancy and 19 mg when breast-feeding).
  
  
  ZINC
  Eye benefits: Helps reduce the risk of night blindness; may play a role in reducing risk of advanced AMD.
  Food sources: Oysters; beef, crab, turkey (dark meat).
  RDA: 11 mg for men; 8 mg for women (11 mg during pregnancy and 12 mg when breast-feeding).