Eating For Health

Everyone knows that healthy eating promotes good health.   But did you know there are foods you can eat to promote good eye health?   The New York State Department of Health has a great article, Look to Fruits and Vegetables for Good Eye Health .   They note that eating more fruits and vegetables will improve eye health and help prevent some eye diseases.   Choosing foods rich in antioxidants is the key to better eye health.   (Fruits and vegetables are good for your overall health, see “ Why are berries and other fruit and veggies so good for your health ?”)   Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants but a number of other foods are also rich in antioxidants.    What antioxidants protect our eyes and what foods provide those antioxidants?   Lutein and Zeaxanthin – you may have seen commercials on TV that promote lutein.   If you look at the daily vitamin/mineral supplement you may be taking, you may find “lutein” listed.   T...

Some interesting research and articles in the news.   Do you like guacamole or adding some avocados to your salad?    Good for your overall health and especially good for your eyes.    Have small children around?   Cut up those grapes and cherry tomatoes.   Do you enjoy some KFC?   Healthier KFC is coming soon. Avocados – in the June 2017 edition of Consumer Reports they noted the following question: “Someone told me avocados are good for your eyes.”   True or False? So true.   Consumer Reports notes avocados are rich with two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.   Both are great for healthy eyes.   Dr. Lipman, Consumer Reports’ Chief Medical Advisor stated, “..they are thought to filter the blue UV rays from the sun – which can damage these eye parts – helping to prevent macular degeneration and possible cataracts.”    Other vegetables that are also good for eye health are those that are dark green such...

Does what you eat affect your vision?   Do the foods you eat or don’t eat affect your eye sight?   Recently I was at a restaurant and a couple sat down in the table next to us.   The man asked the server for a flashlight as he was not able to read the menu in the dim light.   It was a little dim in the restaurant but most people would be able to read the menu.   I didn’t know what his vision problem was, but one thing came to mind, vitamin A deficiency.   One of the first systems of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness.   This results in poor vision at night or in dim light.   Perhaps this gentleman had trouble reading the menu in the dim light because he was deficient in vitamin A.   What are the vitamins and nutrients that promote good vision?   The March 2016 issue of Environmental Nutrition has an article, “ Eat to See Clearly ”.   Choose a Rainbow of Colors:   – Eat the colors of the rainbow for healthy eyes.   ...