Nutritionist reveals essential vitamin which helps to guard eyes from harm
The well-known saying goes “you are what you eat”, and with regard to sure points of our well being that is true.
While we frequently take into account diet after we consider well being points similar to excessive ldl cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes, it could additionally impact our eyes.
In truth, consuming extra of sure nutritional vitamins may even assist defend the eyes from harm.
A nutritionist spoke with Express.co.uk about how one can maintain a particular a part of the attention wholesome by your food regimen.
Public well being nutritionist, Dr Emma Derbyshire from Macushield, mentioned: “It is very important to look after our eye health all year round, even more so in the summer thanks to bright sunshine, air-conditioned offices, dry atmospheres, dust, sand and seawater.
“Overexposure to sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) light can be very damaging to the health of the back of the eye and may, over time, increase the risk of serious eye conditions. It’s important to regularly take steps to help look after our eyes. And that includes a specific part of the eyes – the macula – which is responsible for many aspects of vision.
“The macula is part of the retina, right at the back of the eye. It is only about 5mm across, but it is responsible for our central vision, most of our colour vision and the fine detail of what we see.
“The macula has a very high concentration of photoreceptor cells – the cells that detect light.
“The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina and gives us sharp central vision essential for activities like reading and driving.”
Ms Derybshire really useful upping your vitamin C consumption as one strategy to defend the macula.
“Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant vitamin which helps protect the macula from oxidative damage,” she said.
“The eye is made up of layers of connective tissues maintained by collagen.
“Vitamin C is necessary for the production of collagen and collagen is really important for the eyes as it basically holds the eyes together and protects them.”
Good sources of vitamin C embrace:
- Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons
- Kiwis
- Peppers
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Cruciferous greens (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower)
- White potatoes.
What does analysis say?
One 10 year-long research, printed in Ophthalmology journal in 2016, discovered that vitamin C is linked to the event of cataracts within the eyes.
Cataracts happen when cloudy patches kind on the lens of the attention.
These patches normally develop greater over time inflicting blurred imaginative and prescient and ultimately blindness.
The research adopted greater than 1,000 pairs of feminine twins.
It concluded that individuals who consumed extra vitamin C confirmed a 33 % discount within the threat of cataract development, in addition to clearer lenses general.
However, a separate research from Nutrients journal in 2020 discovered that the hyperlink between vitamin C consumption and cataracts was not particular and extra analysis was wanted.
Ms Derbyshire additionally suggested consuming meals wealthy in lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, zinc, copper and vitamin B2 to advertise wholesome eyes.