5 Foods To Maintain Healthy Eyes And Eyesight

Diet plays an important role in maintaining eye health, as it does for every other part of the body. On today's blog post, I discuss which foods you should be eating, and why the vitamins and minerals they contain are so important for eye health.

Many people eat healthy diets to improve digestion, the immune system, weight, skin and mood, but many forget that diet is important for maintaining healthy eyes and eyesight too. Knowing what foods to eat for good eye health is really important: there is such a wide range of different vitamins and minerals that are essential to eye health, so you need to ensure your diet covers all of these.

* Red, Yellow and Orange Fruit

Red, yellow and orange fruit and vegetables such as bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes and citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons are great sources of Vitamin C and beta carotenes which can help support your production of connective tissues such as collagen, as well as acting as a natural antioxidant, keeping your eyes safe from the degenerating effects of oxidative stress.

* Purple Fruit and Vegetable

Purple fruit and vegetables such as purple carrots are often a rich source of carotenoids which are particularly beneficial for eye health – read our blog on the benefits of Purple Carrot Juice to find out more!

* Leafy Greens

Leafy greens such as kale and spinach. These contain a whole host of important vitamins and minerals such as lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc and vitamins E and C. Other green vegetables such as broccoli and brussel sprouts also contain lots of lutein and zeaxanthin.

* Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes and carrots are great sources of vitamin A: but did you know that 100g of cod liver oil contains over 6 times as much vitamin A as 100g of carrots? Of course, consuming that much cod liver oil in a day is not safe – the common recommendation is no more than 3g a day.

* Fish

Fish such as tuna, mackerel, salmon and trout are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Have a look at our fish recipes for some ideas of how to incorporate more fish into your diet.