4 Nutrients That Help Prevent Cataracts

Health & Medical Blog

Though ocular cataracts can be removed with laser surgery, they are still a real nuisance. They creep up over time, initially making your vision just a little blurry and eventually inhibiting your vision to the point that you can barely see out of one or both eyes. It's far better to prevent cataracts in the first place. If you're still young and cataract-free, one of the best preventative measures you can take is to ensure you're getting enough of these four nutrients that are protective against cataracts.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids help keep tissues, including the lenses of your eyes, pliable and healthy. Unfortunately, a lot of Americans don't get enough omega 3 in their diets, and this can increase your risk of developing cataracts. Good sources of omega 3s include:

• Fish, such as salmon and tuna
• Fish oil supplements (a good choice if you don't like eating fish)
• Flax seed and flax seed oil
• Sunflower seeds and sunflower oil
• Walnuts

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is another nutrient that keeps tissues smooth and pliable and helps to protect against eye problems like cataracts. Most multivitamins contain vitamin E, but you should also make sure you're eating plenty of foods that contain this nutrient since your body may absorb it better from foods. It's a fat soluble vitamin, so make sure you're eating it with some fat so your body absorbs and utilizes it effectively. Vitamin E-rich foods include:

• Almonds
• Eggs
• Wheat germ
• Peanuts and peanut butter
• Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens

Vitamin C

It does more than help you ward off a cold! Eating more vitamin C may reduce your chances of developing cataracts by preventing your immune system by overreacting and triggering changes in your lenses. Citrus fruits are notorious sources, but other sources include:

• Red peppers
• Leafy greens
• Tomatoes
• Papayas
• Peas

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 helps slow and prevent the process by which sugars combine with proteins to form cataracts on your lenses. Also known as pyridoxamine, it is found in these foods:

• Tuna
• Bell peppers
• Garlic
• Bok choy, spinach, and other leafy greens
• Cauliflower

To learn more about preventing cataracts, contact local clinics like Blue Ridge Ophthalmology. They may recommend other nutrients and lifestyle changes to help keep your eyes healthy as you age. It may take some effort to make these changes now, but it will pay off when your vision stays clear throughout your lifetime.

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14 September 2016