Home : health : 7 Vitamins That Promote Eye Health

7 vitamins that promote eye health

7 vitamins that promote eye health

The eyes are a vital sensory organ of the human body that helps us interpret our surroundings and respond to them. Hence, investing time and effort in eye care is necessary. Not doing so can increase the risk of several eye ailments, especially with age. While there are many ways to maintain eye health, nutrition plays an important role. Specific vitamins replenish the body and are required for healthy eyes and good eyesight.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps prevent age-related eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. Besides using chewables that have this vitamin, one can avoid dark circles by applying vitamin E-oil under the eyes. Some foods rich in this nutrient are peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, leafy greens, pumpkin, and wheat germ oil. Apart from promoting healthy eye lenses, vitamin E helps deal with various health conditions, thanks to its antioxidant properties.

Vitamin A
Night blindness is an eye disorder caused by a lack of rhodopsin, a photopigment activated by vitamin A. Therefore, the body requires sufficient vitamin A to prevent the problem. This nutrient also helps maintain the cornea. Carrots are among the richest sources of vitamin A, and they also have high levels of beta carotene, a natural compound that helps fight many ailments. Other suitable foods are tomatoes, bell peppers, milk, eggs, beef liver, and mangoes.

Vitamin C
A regular intake of vitamin C is imperative for healthy lenses. The nutrient performs various functions to promote eye health, such as protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays, reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration, and facilitating the development of collagen (a protein that helps retain eye structure). The best sources of vitamin C are blackcurrants, potatoes, Brussel sprouts, corn, oranges, papayas, and peppers.

Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, or thiamine, helps strengthen the optic nerves and prevent cataracts and other eye lens problems. Its deficiency causes blurred vision, eventually leading to blindness in severe cases. Cereals, fish, beans, seafood, nuts, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and tofu are packed with vitamin B1 and should be added to the meals regularly for better eye health.

Vitamin B2
Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin, helps reduce oxidative stress in the eye lenses and prevent cataracts. It is found in several foods, including chicken, eggs, beef, lean meats, milk and milk products, mushrooms, and tofu. The recommended daily intake of vitamin B2 is 1.1 to 1.3 mg. Besides good eyesight, it promotes growth and overall health.

Vitamin B6
Studies have shown that vitamin B6 may help regulate homocysteine levels in the blood and prevent age-related macular degeneration. A deficiency of this vitamin is linked to blockages in the veins connecting to the retina, which can cause various retinal issues. Vitamin B6 can be found in salmon, cereals, beef liver, potatoes, carrots, tuna, eggs, and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is another nutrient that can help prevent macular degeneration and blurred vision. In addition, it may help recover from dry eye syndrome and relieve burning sensations in the eyes. The vitamin is present in foods like clams, beef, milk and milk products, cereals, red meat, and steamed mussels.

Besides well-known eye disorders like macular degeneration and cataracts, a deficiency in essential vitamins can cause astigmatism. It is an eye condition where the cornea is curved differently, leading to blurred vision. Besides adding foods with eye-healthy vitamins to the meals, doctors recommend contact lenses for minimizing the effects of astigmatism. However, choosing the right contact lenses is vital as some are more suitable for dealing with this disorder. One may also use contact lenses for other eye problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and presbyopia. It is best to consult a doctor to choose the right type depending on the condition.

Popular Reads

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

How many times have allergies caused you to sneeze every time you take a ride in the open air? Or rashes on coming in contact with a plant? Or swelling as a result of a peanut allergy? Sneezing, running noses, watery eyes, rashes, swelling all these reactions due to allergies can be quite distressing. Allergies are more common and can be caused by various things. The cause of allergies is still unknown, it could be genetic or just a singular development. However, they can be easily detected by just visiting your doctor and undergoing some tests. Read on to know more about what are allergies and how to detect them. What are allergies? The immune system is designed to fight any entrant in the body that it recognizes as foreign. However, at times, the immune system becomes over vigilant and starts fighting foreign entrants that are not harmful. Substances that cause the immune system to react this way are called “allergens”, and when you display symptoms of these interactions, you are diagnosed “allergic” to the substance. Allergens can include plants, grass, pollen, dust, food, animal dander among others. While symptoms like running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes, itching, and others, are all attributed to allergic reactions.
5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

A common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and progressive disease that affects the brain and motor functions of the body. The disease progresses through stages. It begins to affect the regions of the brain that control language, thought, and memory. In most of the cases, it begins with a slight memory loss. In the final stages, Alzheimer’s disease leads to the loss of various abilities including motor skills, speech, and independent movement. Here are a few frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s. What are the causes? Alzheimer’s disease does not have any definite cause. Research has been unable to conclude whether Alzheimer’s is developed by one cause or multiple ones. The exact cause of the ailment is not yet known. However, there are multiple factors that may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the major causes is ageism. Also, a family history of Alzheimer’s is another major risk. This may lead to the inheritance of genes that cause this disease. Some other possible risk factors that can cause Alzheimer’s include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol. What are the symptoms? In most cases, the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive ability.
Four important steps in anemia management

Four important steps in anemia management

Hemoglobin is a protein molecule in the red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Its richness in iron gives blood its red color. Anemia is a condition where a person has low hemoglobin or red blood cell count. From an underlying disease to nutrient deficiencies, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the onset of this condition. There are many forms of anemia. Some of them include: Iron deficiency anemia -This is caused due to low iron levels in the blood. Most common causes of this type of anemia are heavy menstruation or internal bleeding. Vitamin deficiency anemia – This type of anemia is caused by the deficiency of vitamin C, B-12 or folate Aplastic anemia – Damaged stem cells in the bone marrow fail to produce enough red blood cells, leading to aplastic anemia. Sickle cell anemia – This is a condition characterized by the development of abnormal crescent-shaped red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia – This is a blood disorder caused due to premature death of red blood cells. Thalassemia – This is caused due to low amounts of hemoglobin in the blood. The blood disorders vary in duration and severity. Prompt diagnosis, and treatment are important because anemia could also be due to an underlying condition.