Focus On Diet

The brain and eyes make up less than 2% of the total body weight, yet use 25% of the body’s nutritional intake. It is well-researched that a good diet and supplementation can help preserve general health, visual health and even help reverse eye disease.

For healthy eyes, eat plenty of high quality, preferably organic, fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables. Eat a rainbow of colours: yellow, orange, red and green vegetables and fruit and green leafy vegetables. Examples include berries, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, corn, capsicum, citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, tomatoes & tropical fruit. Omega-3 fat-rich foods like oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel can help, as well as nuts, seeds, avocados and eggs.

Try and reduce caffeine, alcohol, salt, processed and packaged foods and most importantly, limit refined carbohydrates- white products like flour, sugar & rice. Margarine, vegetable oils, products with trans-fats or hydrogenated fats and artificial flavours and colours can also adversely affect our general and eye health. Olive oil and coconut oil are best. Stay hydrated: drink around 8 glasses of filtered water or spring water per day.

Supplements may be used when the diet does not include enough fresh fruit and vegetables or if the nutrients they contain are not adequately absorbed by your body. However, experts agree that taking supplements is not a substitute for a healthy diet. In general for ageing eyes, a good quality, high potency multi vitamin mineral formula with added antioxidants and essential fatty acids are most important. Ask a natural health professional for a personalised program.