Eye health depends not only on the correct lighting distance or book screen, but also from our diet.
Our Eyes are amazing!
With its superfine tuning eye it is one of the most amazing organs of the body. All the eye muscles are in constant motion to simultaneously carry three functions required to view:
- On the field of view.
- Expansion and contraction of the pupil, in accordance with lighting conditions (aperture).
- The change of curvature of the lens according to the distance to the object visible to the conservation focus.
In addition, the eye constantly sends information to the brain by the optic nerve. It is estimated that in the waking state about a million nerve cells forming the retina, in the second send information to the brain in a volume equivalent to 100 megabytes.
… So little is needed
To perform all these functions, the eye needs only a small amount of oxygen and food are several elements:
- Vitamin A. It is necessary for the formation of rhodopsin, a photosensitive pigment present in the cells of the retina, as well as to moisten the conjunctiva (mucous membrane of the eye) and to maintain it in good condition.
- Carotenoids – natural dyes is contained in foods of plant origin. They act as antioxidants and help prevent macular degeneration of the retina.
- Vitamins C and E – are antioxidants contained exclusively in fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and sprouts. Its deficiency leads to cataract and vision loss.
Plant products, especially those that are described in this article, provide the necessary nutrients eyes.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis can be caused by different causes, such as infections caused by bacteria or damaged by smoke.
A diet with a lack of vitamins A and B leads to dryness of the conjunctiva, provokes and aggravates conjunctivitis.
| Increase |
| Apricot |
| Vitamin A |
| B vitamins |
Macular degeneration of the retina
This is one of the main causes of blindness in people over 65 years. Yellow spot has a width of only two millimeters and is the most sensitive area of the retina, from which most strongly dependent on the visual acuity.
The reasons that trigger damage macular:
- prolonged exposure to intense light;
- free radicals produced by the body, as well as entering the body of tobacco smoke and other pollutants;
- lack of antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals.
The most effective to prevent macular degeneration matter – it carotenoids, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin contained in spinach and cabbage. Contained in the carrot beta-carotene is not so effective.
| Increase |
| Spinach |
| Cabbage |
| Oranges |
| Zinc |
| Antioxidants |
Reduced visual acuity
Reduced visual acuity can have many causes: cataract, brain injury or tumor. But the most common cause – dysfunction of the retina, which can be a cause of diabetes and arteriosclerosis.
Deficiency of antioxidants due to a lack in the diet of fruits, vegetables, oily nuts and seeds can cause damage to the retina and cause a decrease in visual acuity.
| Increase |
| Carrot |
| Spinach |
| Apricot |
| Pumpkin |
| Blueberries |
| Blackberry |
Glaucoma
Glaucoma occurs because of increased intraocular pressure. This leads to atrophy of the retina and optic nerve, which is fraught with serious consequences for the view.
While angle-closure glaucoma, the most common form of the disease occurs because of anatomical deformation of the eye, the type of diet can also affect the intraocular pressure, improve or worsen during glaucoma.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Vitamin B1 | Trans fatty acids |
| Vitamin A | Protein |
| Oranges | Coffee |
Cataracts
Cataracts – a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye. A few years ago it was thought that it is an inevitable consequence of aging, and prevent cataracts did not.
There is a strong relationship between diet and the formation of cataracts. Excessive use of products containing pro-vitamin A and antioxidants – vitamins C and E, can prevent the formation of cataracts in adulthood. We are talking about vegetables, fruits, seeds.
But diabetes, taking certain medications and exposure to ultraviolet and X-rays contribute to the formation of cataracts.
| Increase | Reduce or eliminate |
| Pumpkin | Dairy |
| Antioxidants | Fats |
| Vitamin C | Butter |
| Vitamin E | Salt |
Night-blindness
Night blindness – a sharp deterioration of vision in low light or complete inability to see in the dark. She is one of the first symptoms of vitamin A deficiency
| Increase |
| Carrot |
| Apricot |
| Mango |
