These days it’s almost impossible to walk more than 30 feet without being bombarded with some ad for food. Whether it’s pizza or hamburgers, most of the food we’re exposed to on a day to day basis do not contain any of the nutrition we need.
(I’m not going on a health rant – really! I promise – I enjoy pizza and burgers as much as the next guy.)
Most people know that fruits and vegetables are good for them, but they still don’t get enough of them. Even though they contain everything we need to live a healthy, strong, vibrant life.
And this includes your eyes. The vitamins and minerals contained in plant-based food have everything you need to keep your eyes in top shape.
Below I’m going to outline some the essential nutrients and vitamins to improve your vision and increase your overall quality of life.
1) Alpha-Lipoic Acid
This nutrient fights cell destruction that’s caused by free radicals (cancer causing). Not only will it help you fight and prevent cancer, it has the remarkable ability to enhance vitamin’s C and E, making them more effectively used by the body. It also fights against aging stress that can be caused by smoking and poor nutrition. It helps fight against a number of eye disorders including macular degeneration, cataracts and pterygium (a fleshy growth on the cornea that effects vision).
Where can I find it?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid can be found in leafy and green vegetables like spinach, peas, broccoli and sprouts. It can also be found in oranges, lemons, grapefruit and tomatos.
2) Chromium
This little-heard-of nutrient is vitally important to solving the one problem most people have with their eyes – the ability to focus. It makes focusing your eyes less stressful and and over time helps the muscles of the eyes relax and strengthen.
Where can I find it?
Chromium is not something that is produced by the body and can only be obtained through your diet. Foods rich in chromium include onions, tomatoes, potatoes (not fried), whole grains, and bran.
3) Ginkgo Biloba
The Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient herb known for it’s extremely powerful healing properties, and is an awesome source of antioxidants (fights cancer). When it comes to vision, studies have shown that it increases blood flow to the retina, bringing more oxygen to the eye, slowing retinal deterioration which increases the sharpness and clarity of your vision.
Where can I find it?
There are 2 ways to obtain it (and both are available at your local health food store or online). You could get it in it’s raw form, and then juice it, or you could get it as a supplement.
4) Glutathione
Glutathione is a powerful tool to fight disease in the body. Regarding your eyes, it creates an amino acid that protects the tissues surrounding the eyes. Studies have shown the glutathione can prevent cataracts, retinal disease, glaucoma, and diabetic blindness.
Where can I find it?
Sulfur-rich foods help your body increase your glutathione levels. These include eggs, garlic, asparagus, and onions. Foods that contain glutathione are asparagus, grapefruit and watermelon.
5) Lutein
This nutrient, which is found in our retinas, are essential for healthy eyesight. It protects your eyes from a number of vision problems including, cataracts and macular degeneration. It actually releases a pigment in the eye that can be seen in a healthy eye. It looks like a dark yellow spot surrounding the retina. It also acts as natural sunglasses. You find that people with lutein-rich eyes don’t squint as much when they’re in the sun (although it’s still good to protect your eyes from UV rays with sunglasses or pinhole glasses).
Where can I find it?
Lutein is found in fruits and vegetables that have a red, orange or yellow pigment, like tomatoes, carrots and squash. It’s also found in green leafy vegetables like spinach, celery and kale.
6) Vitamin C
Now we’re moving into thing you’ve actually heard of! The website All About Vision calls vitamin C “The Vision Superhero!” It’s an extremely rich-source of antioxidants, and can prevent cataracts, macular degeneration. It also helps create an overall strong immune system. It’s even been shown, in high doses, to fight cancer. Some people have been completely cured of cancer just by taking high doses of vitamin C!
Where can I find it?
While many animals produce Vitamin C naturally, humans do not, and we can only get it from our diets. Most people know they can get vitamin C from oranges and apples, but many other fruits and vegetables contain this little nutrient-wonder as well (and in higher quantities that oranges). Things like sweet peppers, chili peppers, parsley, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage and strawberries.
7) Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a amazing vitamin which helps protect your eyes from a number of diseases including macular degeneration and cataracts. Studies have also shown that vitamin’s E and C can protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. One of the symptoms or vitamin E deficiency is poor vision. Therefore someone with a vitamin E rich diet is already on a good path to healthy eyes!
Where can I find it?
Dark green vegetables like kale and spinach are rich in vitamin E. So are potatoes and avocados.
8) Vitamin A
Vitamin A is the famous “eye vitamin.” Everyone says, “make sure you eat your carrots, because they have vitamin A and are good for your eyes.” Well not only is this vitamin important for good eye health, it’s essential. The retina of our eyes need vitamin A in order to function properly. We need vitamin A to produce something called “rhodopsin,” which helps our eyes see in low light conditions – also helps us with our peripheral vision.
Vitamin A helps your eyes adjust to light changes (essential for night driving), moistens the eyes keeping your vision sharp, and also helps prevent cataracts, and macular degeneration.
Where can I find it?
Well, carrots are a great place to start. But apples, also have vitamin A, and so does cantaloupe, lettuce and oranges.
So how do I get all of this into my diet?
Good question.
Well to start, I like to juice. So that’s an easy way to get these veggies into your diet.
I like to drink what I call the “Vitamin A Juice.” I juice 3 carrots, 2 apples and an orange. Tastes unbelievable. Trust me.
But what about the rest of them?
The honest truth is that as long as your diet is primarily fruits and veggies, you’re probably getting enough of all these vitamins and minerals already.
If your diet is not primarily fruits and veggies, I recommend you juice. It’s a delicious and easy way to not only improve your eyesight, but your overall way of living.
This is an easy to clean juicer, that I highly recommend.
You can also order supplements. In fact the Rebuild Your Vision company, offers an eye supplement that gives you all of these vitamins, plus a lot more. This is probably the easiest way to get these vitamins. You can pick them up here. (affiliate link)
Keep me posted!
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