| Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can | | | | high in these two carotenoids include broccoli, |
| be one of the ways to support your vision. As | | | | collard greens, corn, green peas, kale, romaine |
| early as in our 30's, our eyes and vision can begin | | | | lettuce, spinach, turnip greens and zucchini. Lutein |
| to deteriorate. Wind, dust, chlorine fumes, | | | | is also found in egg yolks. Persons with diets high |
| automobile fumes, smoking, freezing | | | | in lutein and zeaxanthin were also less likely to |
| temperatures and physical injury are examples of | | | | need cataract surgery. In another study done on |
| threats to healthy eyes and good vision. Long | | | | persons ages 40-59, those with diets high in lutein |
| hours spent at a computer screen and the | | | | and zeaxanthin experienced a reduced risk of |
| vibration from driving have a cumulative negative | | | | developing adult macular degeneration. |
| impact on eye health over time. | | | | Apricots, bilberries and blueberries - apricots are |
| Healthy vision is related to the health of the | | | | rich in beta carotene and lycopene that help |
| individual parts of the eye - the cornea, iris, | | | | promote good vision. Beta carotene is converted |
| macula, lens, optic nerve, pupil, retina and the | | | | by the body to vitamin A as needed, an |
| vitreous humor. And making good ocular nutrition | | | | important antioxidant that resists oxidative stress |
| and eye health food choices are one of the ways | | | | damage to cells and tissues including the eye |
| that good vision can be supported. Information | | | | lenses. Continued oxidative stress may result in |
| provided by the U.S. National Eye Institute and the | | | | the development of cataracts or damage the |
| results of other ocular nutrition and eye health | | | | blood supply to the eyes and lead to macular |
| studies have shown that using nutrition to | | | | degeneration. Eating blueberries has been |
| improve and support eye health definitely | | | | associated with the reduction of eye fatigue. |
| happens. | | | | Blueberries are related to cranberries, and both |
| Here are foods that are known to support and | | | | also help the body resist urinary tract infections. |
| improve eye health: | | | | Bilberries are a form of wild blueberry that grow |
| Collard greens, kale and spinach - studies on ocular | | | | on small bushes. Bilberries were used by British |
| nutrition and eye health show that eating foods | | | | pilots to improve their night vision during World |
| rich in carotenoids is associated with reduced risk | | | | War 2. Fresh bilberries and bilberry jams would be |
| of developing age-related macular degeneration. | | | | sources of this ocular nutrition and eye health |
| Foods rich in carotenoids are leafy green | | | | food. Bilberry seems to improve eye health by |
| vegetables such as spinach, collard greens and | | | | increasing the blood supply to the eyes. |
| kale. Macular eye nutrition becomes increasingly | | | | Our eyes are considered to be the most |
| important as we get older. | | | | important of the senses. By knowing which ocular |
| Green vegetables and corn - another study on | | | | nutrition and eye health food choices support the |
| ocular nutrition and eye health has shown a | | | | eyes, you can include more of these foods in |
| reduced risk of developing cataracts for persons | | | | daily meal planning. |
| having diets higher in lutein and zeaxanthin. Foods | | | | Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing. |