Last Updated on January 3, 2021 by Lori Geurin
Looking to improve your eyesight? Our mothers told us that carrots were good for our eyes to get us to eat them. But although the carrot lobby has been unbelievably effective at marketing the virtues of carrots, there are other foods that have been proven to improve your visual acuity. Here’s a rundown of some of the best.
Top Foods To Improve Your Eyesight
Food #1: Spinach
Spinach isn’t in the same family of veggies as watercress, kale, and broccoli. It’s a very different kind of green, with its own individual properties. But, it does share some commonalities, namely, the high degree of lutein and zeaxanthin.
These two chemicals work together to prevent macular degeneration and help to filter out some of the more harmful wavelengths in the UV spectrum. In a sense, spinach is a kind of sunscreen for the back of your eyes.
How much do you need to eat to benefit from it? Experts recommend about 100g (3.5 oz.), three times a week, cooked, steamed, or raw.
Food #2: Almonds
Nuts have been shown to extend the lives of practically every population ever studied. This suggests, that like beans, they pass along significant health benefits.
These benefits also apply to the eyes. Researchers have found that almonds contain a type of antioxidant that specifically helps protect the sensitive tissues that make up the retina from experiencing damage. This helps prevent long-term, sight-related conditions, like macular degeneration.
Food #3: Dark Berries
For years ophthalmologists have suspected that the consumption of berries was related to healthier eyes. And that should come as no surprise. During the Second World War, the Allies fed bilberries to their pilots to improve their vision at night.
Since then, lab studies have shown that animals fed dark berries, rich in antioxidant pigments called anthocyanins, suffer less macular degeneration and are able to navigate mazes in limited light more efficiently.
Food #4: Oranges
Oranges are a rich source of vitamin C – as are many other plants, including leafy greens and amla, or Indian gooseberries. But, oranges are also one of the most delicious fruits, which is why they’re often promoted for their nutritional benefits.
Studies have shown that humans consume far less vitamin C than we did during the majority of our evolution. In fact, scientists think that we got so much Vitamin C from our diets that our bodies just gave up making it endogenously. Unlike other mammals, humans don’t have the capacity to make their own vitamin C, despite having the majority of the genes in our chromosomes to do so.
Studies have shown that people who consume more vitamin C have healthier eyes. It was thought that high vitamin C intake was just a marker for a healthier diet. But studies using supplemental vitamin C have since confirmed the vitamin’s independent benefit.
Scientists are now racing to find out why high doses of vitamin C prevent damage to the eyes. Many think that it comes down to the antioxidant capacity of the vitamin, which Linus Pauling thought would help him live forever.
How do you use nutrition to boost your health? What do you think about these foods that are used to improve your eyesight?
Leave your comments below!
If you enjoyed this, you’ll want to check out;
- Top 25 Healthy Food Instagram Accounts
- Healthy Food To Eat After A Workout
- Low Carb Green Smoothie Recipe
- Setting And Maintaining Your Nutritional Goals
- Top 20 Best Healthy Snacks For You
- Timeless Guide To Aging With Grace: Living Your Best Life
My eyesight could definitely use some improvement! >.< Everything here is something I certainly don't mind adding more of in my diet ^^
I hear you, Amanda! My vision has been getting worse the past couple of years, so I’m focusing on even more on eating healthy foods like these.
Luckily I like everything on this list because my eyes have been bad forever! I hadn’t heard of dark berries helping before!
I’m glad to hear you like these foods. Thanks!
I never knew that you could eat food to help with eyesight! My parents have terrible eyesight so anything I can do to help would be awesome!
I hope this helps, Lindsey… Thanks!