If you want to maintain healthy vision for the long term, you can help it by eating nutritious foods that are especially good for eyesight. You do however need to work a bit harder to ensure that your body gets the nutrients it needs because nowadays our food contains less vitamins than just a few decades ago. You may also have to incorporate supplements into your diet to ensure that you are getting all that your body needs. Read on below for some helpful information on this topic.

When it comes to eye health, two compounds are critical for proper functioning. Zeaxanthin and lutein are both found in the eye, and these are special antioxidants which are used to protect it from free radical damage. Why does this matter? UV rays from sunlight are a major source of free radicals and so by ingesting a variety of nutrients from foods and supplements, you’ll be able to protect your vision! Further, lutein and zeaxanthin may work to keep cataracts from forming too, so they have much to offer.

What foods have these within them? They are often combined together in nature, and many vegetables with dark colors include them both. Some of the best sources include spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, peas, green beans and kale. If you prefer to eat something a little sweeter instead, then you can get your daily requirements from several different types of delicious fruits. These include oranges, peaches, mangoes, prunes, grapes, kiwis and even melons.

In fact, you can increase the effectiveness of your eating plan, by including oranges in your diet. Not only do they deliver zeaxanthin and lutein, they are a great source of another vitamin too. Oranges contain high doses of Vitamin C, which is thought to slow the onset of macular degeneration and lower your risk for developing cataracts as well.

Another excellent item for optimum vision is Docosahexaenoic Acid or DHA. It is great for supporting the cell membranes within your eyes, which may help to keep your eyesight healthy and clear! In addition, medical experts recommend it for people who have dry eye or who may be prone to macular degeneration. What foods contain DHA? Fish from cold water climates are the best sources, and examples include cod, tuna, mackerel and sardines. However, you may want to limit yourself to two servings per week, as these may have trace amounts of mercury in them.

Finally, Beta-carotene is certainly worth a mention as well. You are no doubt familiar with the commonly known fact, that eating carrots is good for your vision. In fact, any bright yellow or orange vegetable has high Beta-carotene content, so you can simply select your favorite one! Beta-carotene is converted into Vitamin A by your body, which is well known for its eyesight preserving qualities.

So, you should now have a clearer picture, about what you need to eat for better eye health. When you add these foods to your plate often, your eyesight can only improve! Therefore, remember to include these foods in your diet every week to guard against macular degeneration. When you do so, your eyes will be protected, and you should be happy with the strength of your vision in years to come!