4 Vitamins That Support Eye Health in Seniors
Keeping their eyes healthy should be a priority for all seniors. A healthy diet containing the right vitamins and minerals is unquestionably the best way for seniors to protect their eyesight. Any foods with beta carotene in them are great for eye health. Beta carotene is what gives foods like carrots and squash their color. In general, vegetables that are yellow or orange have a lot of beta carotene. So do leafy greens.
But there are also other vitamins and minerals that seniors need to keep their eyes healthy. Because so many vitamins and minerals seniors need are found in fresh vegetables, seniors who have trouble making meals or cooking need in-home care. In-home care can make meals and shopping easier for seniors. Likewise, an in-home provider can help seniors get these vitamins and minerals that will help them maintain their eyes:
Vitamin A
A lack of Vitamin A can contribute to the development of night blindness in seniors as they get older. Seniors who lack Vitamin A can develop permanent blindness or vision loss. However, Vitamin A is easy to obtain by consuming foods like carrots, winter squash varieties, and sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes have a lot of vitamins and minerals, and they’re a great healthy snack or side dish for seniors.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is something the body needs for healthy skin and lots of other functions, including healthy eyes and preserving vision. Research shows signs that getting a lot of Vitamin E may help slow down or stop the development of cataracts in seniors. Vitamin E is found in plant-based oils like olive oil and in healthy fats like nuts and avocados. Avocados are a great source of healthy fat, as well as Vitamin E, and seniors who like them should be eating them often.
Zinc
As an enzyme, the body needs zinc to keep the tissue of the eye healthy. Zinc can be found in many foods that seniors eat everyday, like dairy products, beans, lentils, seeds, and seafood. Seafood is something seniors should be eating regularly, because it contains essential Omega fatty acids. So seniors can get multiple benefits for their eyes by eating seafood a few times each week.
Lutein
Lutein helps keep the tissue in the lens of your eye healthy, which means it’s an essential component for healthy eyes. Seniors should be eating foods like berries, broccoli, papaya, peaches, mangoes and leafy greens to get more lutein. A great way to eat more of these foods is to blend them together in a smoothie for a meal or snack. A powerhouse smoothie full of foods that contain Vitamins A and E, Lutein, and Zinc will help seniors keep their eyes strong and healthy as they get older.