Eye Care for Your Protection
Why is eye care important? The words of Jesus in Matthew 13:16 state, "Blessed are your eyes because they see.". Blessed! It is good fortune to possess eyes that are healthy and free from any eye condition like age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
AMD is a popular eye disease that affects the central part of the retina resulting in distortion or loss of vision. Smokers, people with high blood pressure, and those in their golden years are at risk of developing this condition. So it's best to start your eye care now by having a healthy balanced diet.
In Genesis 1:29, God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food." verse 31 reads, "God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good!"
The Scripture, whether you believe it or not, informs that fresh fruits and vegetables are good for one's health. Vitamins A, C, and E found in fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables are essentials for eye nutrition. Vitamin A is good for the cornea, Vitamin C helps the capillaries in the retina to be healthy and Vitamin E helps protect eye cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Copper and zinc are essentials for eye nutrition too. Copper-rich foods like whole wheat cereals and oysters are necessary for the development of proper eye structure. While consumption of seafood, eggs, and tofu gives off zinc which helps in absorbing nutrients and eliminating wastes.
Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon and tuna are also good for the eyes. It helps in reducing the risk of developing macular degeneration and blocks other eye diseases like dry eye syndrome.
Eye nutrition is also about what not to eat. Some foods you should not eat for eye care purposes are processed meat and ready-to-eat foods because of their high-sodium content which contributes to hypertension that may lead to macular degeneration. Fried foods, especially those fried in trans fat, raise the level of bad cholesterol in the body which may cause different eye diseases.
Note that you need to hydrate yourself, but beverages like sugary drinks, alcohol, and caffeine are not eye-nutrition essentials. Avoid any of these if you can, or at least drink in moderation. Remember that the best way to hydrate yourself is by drinking water.
Aside from a healthy diet, there is regular exercise, adequate rest, a healthy body weight, quitting smoking, using appropriate eyewear, and having your eyes checked by a doctor. All these are part of proper eye care.
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