Which of the following is most important in protecting your vision?
• Eating lots of fruit and vegetables
• Properly managing your weight
• Taking multivitamins and mineral supplements
• All of the above
The correct answer is “All of the Above”!
Vegetables and fruits are great sources of protective nutrients. Dark, leafy greens, in particular, are abundant in lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that filter out harmful UV radiation that damages the eyes.
It is very important to have a handle on abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. Insulin resistance (marked by abdominal obesity), diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking are all linked with increased risk of cataracts and other vision problems.
Taking an antioxidant rich daily multivitamin and mineral supplement are also extremely beneficial to your vision. You can’t rely on your diet to provide the levels of vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene, zinc that have been shown to protect the eyes and reduce risk of macular degeneration. And if an abundance of leafy greens aren’t making up a part of your diet, make sure you take supplemental lutein, zeaxanthin, and additional vision-enhancing nutrients.
