Eating for Eye Health

In a recent article that was published in About.com newsletter they recommended certain vitamins and nutritional supplements for maintaining eye health. Lutein (10mg/day) is one of more than 600 naturally known carotenoids found to be present in a concentrat ed area of the retina (macula) and protects the eyes from oxidative stress and high-energy light. Lutein can be found in dark, green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and collards, and also corn and eggs. DHA (500mg/day) is an essential fatty acid (polyunsaturated fats) playing an important role in bodily functions. Vitamin C (500mg/day) is a water-soluble vitamin with anti-oxidant actions being associated with reduction in the risk of cataracts and seems to play a role in delaying age-related macular degeneration. Vitamin E (400mg/day) is the collective name for a set of 8 fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant properties and is found in nuts, salads, peanut butter, cereals, sweet potatoes and margarine. Copper (2 mg./day) is a trace nutrient essential to all high plant and animals. It can be an antioxidant, scavenging damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. It can be found in mixed nuts, sunflower seeds, liver, beans and lentils.