Vitamins to Promote Healthy Vision
Most of the attention has focused on the antioxidant vitamins, most notably beta-carotene, which is a form of Vitamin A. The entire class of related compounds, called carotenoids because they are common in carrots, has been shown to be essential for rebuilding eye tissue. Smokers, however, should be cautioned that large doses of beta-carotene may interact with nicotine, making that habit even more dangerous than usual.
Vitamins C and E also enjoy a reputation for enhancing the health of the eyes, but less well known is the importance of minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and selenium, which are vital to the metabolization of all antioxidants. These supporting nutrients must not be neglected, as the body is unable to complete the healing cycle without them.
Diet Recommendations for Vision Support
More recent research has uncovered the role that the Omega fatty acids play in preserving and restoring eye health, proving beneficial in preventing disease of the retina in laboratory tests. Due to the delicate and intricate network of capillaries, which supply the inner eye with nutrients, many eye diseases are the result of blood vessel damage and regrowth.
Lutein, another carotenoid, has become a widely used supplement to support eye health. Supplementation can be tricky business, however, as amounts are not standardized well, quality differs from brand to brand, and some common forms of supplement coating are completely indigestible, leaving you without your vital nutrients or your money.
Fortunately, the ingredients for healthy vision can all be found in natural, plant-based foods, particularly nutrient-dense ?superfood? flora which Nature, in Her wisdom has scattered about the Earth for us to enjoy as part of a healthy and abundant life.
|
