10 Foods That Protects Eyes

By Pooja Kaushal

Tuesday, August 19, 2014, 18:25 [IST]

The eyes are said to give away the thoughts of a person. But do you know that it gives away much more than that? Yes, they are also an indication of your overall health. A healthy body will have bright and sparkling eyes. On the other hand, a tired and ailing body can be clearly seen in the eyes. No wonder, it is said that the eyes are a mirror to one’s soul.

But one fact that cannot be denied is that the eyes can develop problems on their own, irrespective of what is going on in the rest of the body. After all, they too are a part of the body and function with their own set of nerves, veins and muscles. In order to keep eyes healthy, we can adopt a couple of measures. To begin with, it is essential to keep the eyes healthy from within and that happens when we consume foods that protect eyes.

HEALTHY BEVERAGES TO RELIEVE STRESS

Food is an important aspect of one’s health. Eat healthy to stay healthy. Each variety of food has its own set of benefits. The vitamins and minerals present in them get absorbed by our body to enable each organ to function properly.

When it comes to eyes, we need to know the kinds of vitamins and minerals that are required to maintain good eye health. The most important ones happen to be vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and essential fatty acids. Accordingly, we can shortlist some good foods for eyes.

Eggs

An egg is considered to be a complete meal on its own. Include an egg in your breakfast and you have stocked yourself with most of the vitamins and minerals required for the entire day. This includes care for your eyes too since an egg is a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Spinach

Similar to eggs, spinach and other leafy greens are also good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. Both these nutrients are believed to protect the eye against age-related eye degeneration problems.

Carrots

Have you ever seen rabbits wearing glasses? Definitely not. To have eyes that are bright and sharp as a rabbit, increase your intake of carrots. This orange coloured root is full of vitamin A and belongs to the group of foods that protect eyes.

Beetroot

Yet another root and yet another rich source of vitamin A. We surely need to stock up on this very essential vitamin to have our eyes look lively and happy.

Almonds

They are good for the eyes. Rich in vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids, almonds help in keeping the eyes young and healthy. You need not have too many of them. Around 8 to 10 almonds a day are enough to serve the purpose.

Broccoli

Dark green in colour and rich in vitamin C and lutein and zeaxanthin - what else do we ask for when we go looking for good foods for eyes? This tree shaped vegetable gives good health to eyes but remember to have them fresh. The darker the shade of this vegetable, the better.

Seafoods

Seafoods like salmon and sardines are known to be good sources of protein and omega 3 fatty acids. They carry rich sources of zinc, another mineral essential for good eyes. This makes them join the club of foods that protect eyes.

Citrus

It is citrus all the way when we call for vitamin C. Fruits like oranges and grapefruit are not only tasty to eat and known to ward of colds and coughs but are also good foods for eyes. It is possible to keep macular degeneration and cataracts at bay with citrus on our plates.

Beans

Legumes of all kinds are known to carry zinc, an essential mineral for the eyes. This mineral helps to protect the eyes against the damaging effects of light.