hmer200

Todays Tought

It has been such a long time since I wrote my very first post . Being an international student , doing Msc at GCU is not only a good learning opportunity for newer ideas but much more too . All the Professors are so dedicated & expert in their specialties .

During week 7 , doing a group presentation on Acanthamoeba Keratitis has not only helped me to learn about disease but also taught me how to manage time & do team work . Presently , I am working on the assigned project : Macular Mapping under the guidance of Prof. N Strang .

The following valuable information I feel is not only worth reading but by implementing it one can have a good VISION too .

Good Nutrition and Eye Health: They’re Connected.//us2.siteimprove.com/js/siteanalyze_6218.js//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=GTM-WRKCMBhttp://www.google-analytics.com/plugins/ua/linkid.js//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.jshttps://apis.google.com/_/scs/apps-static/_/js/k=oz.gapi.en.GtbO6aLBmgE.O/m=plusone/rt=j/sv=1/d=1/ed=1/am=AQ/rs=AGLTcCPrbE429t6-SYAeKxGLkD6FEg97_Q/t=zcms/cb=gapi.loaded_0https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js// https://platform.twitter.com/js/button.6619238bf476cc3999511336bc046bfa.js

Nutrition and Eye Health:

During Healthy Aging Month, it’s appropriate to emphasize the link between nutrition and your eyes, including research studies that demonstrate a clear connection between good nutrition and eye health. Two landmark clinical trials, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS2, provided evidence that a combination of specific nutrients in specific amounts reduced the risk of developing advanced AMD in participants who had already-existing moderate to advanced dry or wet macular degeneration (AMD).

Along with this growing evidence that specific nutrients have a positive and protective effect on eye health are growing numbers of nutritional supplements that offer a variety of formulas for healthy eyes. We all want to preserve our vision, but it can be confusing and overwhelming to interpret research studies and determine what is truly best for our individual situations.

Foods, Nutrients, and Eye Health

a range of vegetables
When it comes to nutrition, it is best to get your nutrients from foods. The good news is we have many wholesome foods available to us. It is all about making healthy choices.

Choosing the freshest forms of colorful fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish, whole grains and nuts, and low-fat dairy and eggs will ensure a diet rich in many of the nutrients that promote healthy eyes and preserve vision.

Here is a list of nutrients that play a beneficial role in keeping our eyes healthy:

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

  • These important antioxidants may reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration. They protect against the damaging effects of sunlight, cigarette smoke, and air pollution. Zeaxanthin appears to be the most active antioxidant in the macula specifically.
  • Foods to eat: green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards. Also found in eggs, broccoli, pumpkin, and bright-colored fruits like kiwi and grapes. The richest source of zeaxanthin is goji berries (also called wolfberries), which are available in health food and some grocery stores, in dried form and in juices and teas.
  • Please note: According to WebMD, goji berries could interact with certain drugs, including those for diabetes, blood pressure, and blood thinners. If you take any of these drugs, talk with your doctor before consuming goji berries in any form.

Vitamin A

  • The A vitamins, which include beta-carotene, help the retina, cornea, and other eye tissues to function properly. They are known for helping with night vision.
  • Foods to eat: beef liver, fish, milk, eggs, spinach, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

Vitamin C

  • This antioxidant may lower the risk of developing cataracts and slow the progression of AMD.
  • Foods to eat: oranges, berries, red and green peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, papaya, cantaloupe, and Brussels sprouts.

Vitamin E

  • This powerful antioxidant seems to protect cells of the eyes from the damage caused by free radicals, which destroy healthy tissue.
  • Foods to eat: sweet potatoes, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, wheat germ oil, fortified cereals, vegetable oils, and peanut butter

Essential Fatty Acids

  • Fats are essential in the diet. There are two types of omega-3 fatty acids: the plant-based ALA and the oily fish-based EPA and DHA. They play an important role in visual development and retinal function. Low levels of DHA, found in the retina, have been linked to dry eye syndrome.
  • Foods to eat: tuna, salmon, mackerel, anchovies, trout, green vegetables, vegetable oils, and walnuts.

Zinc