High precision and performance make the eye one of the most amazing organs in the body. To achieve its complex function the eye needs oxygen, carotenoids, and Vitamins A, C & E. Three of the best foods for healthy eyes are carrots, apricots, and spinach.
Common Eye Conditions
- Glaucoma: This is the deterioration of the retina and optic nerve causing poor vision. The pressure of the liquid within the eye causes this disorder.
- Conjunctivitis: An infection from germs, dust, or smoke irritation leads to this condition.
- Cataracts: The opaqueness of the lens.
- Loss of visual acuity: The gradual deterioration of sight. Cataracts, cerebral lesions or tumors, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) are the causes.
- Night blindness: The slowing or complete lack of ability to adapt to seeing in the dark. This is a sign of Vitamin A deficiency.
- Macular degeneration of the retina: The damage to the most sensitive area of the retina called the macula and may result in blindness. This is the most common cause of blindness in people over the age of 65. Prolonged exposure to intense light, free radicals (such as smoke), and a lack of antioxidants able to neutralize free radicals cause this condition.
Healthy Foods for Your Eyes
Carrots
Carrots are extremely high in Vitamin A which makes them one of the best foods for healthy eyes. They are also a good source of Vitamins B, C, and E as well as minerals and trace elements such as iron and potassium.
Important substances in carrots include;
- Carotenoids which the body converts into vitamin A for good eye and skin health.
- Vegetable fiber which helps in digestion
- Essential oils help the body fight germs in the intestines
Besides treating diseases of the eyes, carrots are also useful in skin diseases, gastritis, colitis, excess gastric acid, and the prevention of cancer.
Preparation and Use of Carrots
- Raw. Raw carrots strengthen children’s teeth.
- Cooked as in stews
- Drank as a juice on their own or combined with apple juice or lemon juice.
Apricot
Apricots are high in Vitamins A, C, and E. They also have a high content of potassium and other minerals and trace elements.
This combination of these substances in apricots makes them ideal for diseases of the eye such as dryness, irritation, or itching of the conjunctiva. This fruit may also treat loss of visual acuity and night blindness.
Apart from eye diseases apricots increase resistance to infections and are recommended for;
- disorders of the skin such as eczema
- the nasal cavity such as sinusitis and chronic pharyngitis
- nervous disorders including depression, nervousness, lack of appetite, and asthenia
Preparation and Use of Apricots
- Fresh and ripe
- Dried
- Preserved as in marmalade.
Apricot treatment: This is carried out over 15 days. Eat half a kilogram (one pound) of ripe apricots a day for supper. Preferably as the only dish for supper.
Spinach
Spinach is possibly the highest-nutrition green leafy vegetable known to man. It contains high amounts of Vitamins A, B, C, and E. It is also extremely rich in potassium, iron, magnesium, and calcium.
This vegetable is very important for the preservation of sight for all ages but particularly for people over the age of 50.
Spinach is also useful in other conditions;
- Anemia: The high iron content in spinach helps treat this condition
- Reducing blood cholesterol levels: Spinach blocks the absorption of cholesterol and bile acids.
- It is ideal for pregnant women. Its high folic acid content prevents certain malformations of the fetus
- The high vitamin and mineral content make spinach ideal for children’s growth and physical activity as in athletes.
Preparation and Use of Spinach
- Raw (as in salads)
- Cooked (preferable steaming)
- Fresh juice before lunch or supper.
References
Carrots, carotene, and seeing in the dark
Effects of Constant Intake of Lutein-rich Spinach on Macular Pigment Optical Density: a Pilot Study