Carrots get a lot of attention as foods that support your vision and eye health, but when it comes to nutrition for your eyesight, there are lots of options for you to enjoy.

Eye Health Starts from the Inside Out

Your nutrition plays more of a role in your eye health than you might think.  Sure, whether you’ve eaten straight out of your own home-grown organic vegetable garden or you’ve had take-out for the last three days, there doesn’t seem to be a perceivable difference to how well you’re seeing from day to day. This can make it tough to understand just how important it is to eat with your vision in mind.

However, your nutrition is a critical component to your eye health. It’s one of several lifestyle factors that can help to determine your vision wellness in your near and distant future.

Lifestyle Tips for Vision Care

Beyond what you eat, there are many things you can do to support and promote vision wellness. These include:

• Wearing sunglasses with UV protection when you’re outside
• Maintaining a healthy bodyweight
• Keeping up an active lifestyle
• Looking away from screens for at least 20 seconds at least every 20 minutes
• Wearing protective eyewear during activities that could risk injury
• Making sure you have healthy blood sugar levels
• Quitting smoking

Beyond Carrots – Try These Eye Health-Friendly Foods

Carrots don’t have to be on the menu for ocular wellness. Try these foods for eye health too!

1. Dark green vegetables – Spinach, broccoli, kale, rappini, and lots of other dark green veggies are packed with vitamins and minerals that nourish your eyes. They make great side dishes, salads, smoothie ingredients, or can be tossed into stir fries and soups.
2. Red bell peppers – Ideally eaten raw, the vitamin C and other antioxidants in red bell peppers are fantastic for the blood vessels in your eyes. They might also help to reduce the risk of cataract development.
3. Sweet potatoes – Rich in carotene and vitamin E, sweet potatoes support your night vision and their antioxidants help to protect against oxidative damage to the cells.
4. Seeds and nuts – Walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas) and sunflower seeds are all fantastic sources of vitamins C and E as well as zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. These are great for protecting your eyes from oxidative damage.
5. Lentils and legumes – Legumes such as beans and peas, and lentils are all wonderful sources of fiber, protein and zinc. They’re often listed among the best foods for natural eye health improvement.
6. Egg yolks – Eggs are often considered a superfood, and it’s not difficult to understand why. They’re even great options for a lifestyle that includes vision care. The yolks are particularly packed with nutrients, including those that help to protect your retinas against blue light damage.
7. Kiwis – While most fruits are great for eye health in one way or another, kiwis are particularly great for their natural soothing effect and for the support they provide to your natural ultraviolet protection.

One of the best things about foods that are good for your eye health is that they also taste great!