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Wear sunglasses outdoors, don’t sleep with your contacts on, and have your eyes checked once a year by your eye doctor. These are common eye care tips that many of us have been given at one time or another. While these tidbits of advice are certainly important for protecting the health of your eyes, they are not all you should be doing.

Your eyes, like the rest of your body, are largely dependent on vitamins and minerals from the foods we eat in order to remain healthy. Continue reading below as the optometrists from Wing Eyecare in Cincinnati, OH, explain which foods you should be consuming to support your eye health.

5 Foods You Can Eat to Support Eye Health

1. Carrots, Pumpkins & Other Orange-Hued Veggies

Eating plenty of carrots is an eye care tip you’ve probably heard since childhood. The vitamin A and beta-carotene in carrots, pumpkins, sweet-potatoes, and other orange-hued veggies work to protect your retinas, prevent night blindness, and minimize your risk of developing eye infections. You can enjoy these veggies cooked or raw, and aim for at least two servings each day.

2. Leafy Greens

eye careAs you get older, it is important to include spinach, kale, swiss chard, and other green, leafy veggies in your diet. The antioxidants in these foods—specifically lutein and zeaxanthin—protect against macular degeneration and cataracts. If leafy greens aren’t your thing, you can still get these same antioxidants by eating zucchini, avocados, and colorful peppers. 

3. Fatty Fish

Keep your eyes moisturized, your cells healthy, and protect against macular degeneration by eating a lot of seafood. Fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, and mackerel are rich in omega-3’s, which are vital to visual health and development. Aim for wild-caught varieties and prepare the fish with herbs, lemon, salt, pepper, and olive oil to maximize the benefits.

4. Eggs

Eggs are one of the most nutrient-rich foods you can consume for your eyes. In addition to containing plenty of protein and good cholesterol, eggs are rich in zinc, vitamin A, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Eat two whole eggs each day to help support the health of your retinas and protect your eyes against blindness and degeneration.

5. Citrus Fruits

The vitamin C found in citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons also work to support your eye health. Eating at least two servings of these fruits each day will help to keep the blood vessels in your eye healthy and stop cataracts from forming.

For more eye care tips or to schedule an eye exam, call Wing Eyecare at (888) 274-9464. To learn more about this eye center, including information on obtaining prescription glasses, visit them online today.

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