Prevention Is Better Than Cure: Top Tips To Keep Your Blinkers Healthy With Food And Exercise

Believe it or not, you can actually keep your eyes healthy through the food you eat and the exercise you do on a daily basis.

We’ve divided our quick expert eye-care tips into two parts. Last week, we looked at keeping your eyes healthy wearing makeup and in the workplace. This week we're looking at keeping your eyes healthy with food and exercise.

Vitamins And Your Eyes

Our diet has a direct effect on our body’s health, even our eyes. We have the essential vitamins and minerals you should be including in your daily diet to benefit your quality of vision and overall eye health.

Vitamin A

This is an essential antioxidant that influences the prevention of night blindness, hinders the formation of cataracts, and helps lower the risk or slow down the progression of age-related macular degeneration. This is where the “you must eat carrots” advice comes in to play.

Stock up on your vitamin A with carrots, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, apricots and red bell peppers

Vitamin E

This vitamin plays a role in preventing cataracts. Vitamin E can be found in sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, spinach, broccoli, kiwi, and mango.

Vitamin C

Studies suggest that a high level of this vitamin can reduce elevated pressure in individuals with glaucoma, can slow age related macular degeneration and can lower your risk of cataracts. Great sources of vitamin C are broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, oranges, cabbage, tomatoes, raspberries, celery, and spinach.

Vitamin B

A healthy source of Vitamin B in your daily diet can reduce the risk of contracting certain eye diseases. There are eight vitamins as part of Vitamin B and they are referred to as a ‘Vitamin B complex’ in supplement form. Food sources include eggs, fresh vegetables, whole cereals, dairy products and meat.

Keep Fit, Keep Your Eyes Fit

Most of us know that exercising and keeping fit can lower our risk of diseases and improve both our physical and emotional wellbeing. But did you know it is also directly related to maintaining your body’s organs in top shape, including your eyes?

Research is still young on the topic but so far, evidence shows that those with an active lifestyle have better eye health.

Guidelines suggest aiming for a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise or performing a low-intensity form of exercise such as walking for at least 45 minutes five days a week, if not daily.

The bottom line is exercise strengthens not only your body, but also your eyes.

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GloHealth members who have chosen the Eye Care Personalised Package can claim up to €20 back for an eye exam, and will  also get discounts on prescription glasses and contact lenses. For more information on this package, see GloHealth.ie