Eat Your Way to Better Vision

This post was written by guest blogger Pam Kropf, who is a paralegal at VSP Vision Care.

In January you may have promised yourself to get fit as part of your New Year’s resolution. In February you may have joined a gym. March is National Nutrition Month and it is about time that we realize how important nutrition is for our health and vision. Exercise is one part of staying healthy, but proper nutrition is, too. You need both elements to live a long and happy life.

You’ve all heard the saying, “You are what you eat,” right?  Research demonstrates that nutrition directly affects the development of certain eye conditions, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration – the two leading causes of visual impairment and blindness.

I am sure you have heard that eating carrots will help improve your vision, and it does, but kale is even more beneficial. It is easy to prepare and can be found in most supermarkets. Just adding a handful to your salads will boost your daily intake of beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C and calcium. The nutrients in kale can even help prevent the growth of cancer cells!

Food is an integral part of our day with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. We all think about it and when a meal is missed, your mood changes. When you eat something that does not agree with you, you feel out of sorts. When you consume meals with the right vitamins and minerals, you will not only feel energized and complete, but you will also glow. Your hair, skin, nails and the whites of your eyes will radiate because health is built from the inside out. Make the right choices, take care of your vision and watch what happens!

For more information on National Nutrition Month, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at: http://www.eatright.org/nnm/