7
Super Foods for Eyes As Sharp As a Hawk
By Janice
Costa
They say papaya is great for your skin, dairy products can do
wonders for hair and lean fish can keep your heart pumping, but isn't there a
part of your anatomy that you haven't been paying enough attention to? Your
eyes! If you don't want glasses permanently perched on your nose and cataract
blurring your vision in old days, you better take care of your peepers now.
Here is our pick of 7 super foods that will do your eyes a world of good.
Carrots
Your mom must have grilled you about the importance of eating
carrots since infancy and every bit of it is true. Carrots are loaded with beta
carotene and antioxidants that help improve your vision and reduce the risk of
cataract. Dice some carrots and add them to your soup, eat as munchies with
your lunch or enjoy them with mayonnaise or a hummus dip. Get creative with
your cooking; the plain-jane carrot does not have to be so bland anymore.
Tomatoes
Here is all the more reason to dig into juicy tomatoes. Tomatoes
are a rich source of carotenoids and lycopene that help protect the retina from
light-induced damages. When you include tomatoes in salad, we recommend adding
olive oil dressing to the salad, as it boosts the absorption of lycopene,
making it all the more nutritious.
Ostrich
The idea of eating ostrich might not exactly be appealing to
your senses, but it does have its perks. Apparently, ostrich meat is loaded
with proteins, zinc and iron - all of which are great for your eyes. Plus, it
is not as fattening as beef or read meat. Cook the tender ostrich meat at just
the right temperature and season it with herbs and you won't be able to tell
the difference between ostrich and chicken meat.
Spinach
Just a cup of spinach contains approximately 20 milligrams of
lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which can do wonders for your eyes. With enough
lutein in your system you can safely keep the risk of muscular degeneration and
cataract at bay. So, scrunch your nose and gobble up the spinach and your
peepers will be thankful for it.
Eggs
If you are having a tough time keeping down the spinach, then
you can also try eggs. Eggs have a decent amount of zeaxanthin that will work
just as well for your system. Whether you like your eggs scrambled, poached or
as omelet, make sure to eat at least two eggs every day.
Sweet Potatoes
Beta carotene to the rescue once again! The bright-orange cover
of the sweet potatoes is loaded with beta carotene and you don't need to be
told exactly how helpful it can be for your eyes. Sweet potatoes work great as
side starch in dinner and when fried in little oil, it is the best fries ever,
only minus the fat found in regular fries.
Nuts
You knew nuts can be great for your skin and hair, but did you
know that it can also work wonders for your eyes? Nuts are an excellent source
of vitamin E, which protects eyes from free radicals and slows down age-related
muscular degeneration. Just an ounce of your favorite nut a day, be it walnut,
peanut or sunflower seed and you are good for the day.
Don't forget to conduct regular eye exam, just to be sure.
If you don't want glasses permanently perched on your nose and
cataract blurring your vision in old days, then you better take care of your
peepers now. To find a reliable eye doctor, click on this link.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Janice_Costa/1768257
