It is no secret that healthy eating is essential for an overall healthy life. However, often the idea of healthy eating is limited to weight loss, diabetes, heart health and other related issues. There are many other factors that hardly anyone talks about – eye health is one such example. Eyes are an equally important part of our body that require proper care to maintain healthy eye sight. To solve this problem, World Sight Day is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of October. This year, we celebrate World Sight Day today (on October 14, 2021). It is marked for drawing attention to eye-related issues including blindness, vision loss, and more. It was originally started in 2000 by SightFirstCampaign of the Lions Clubs International Foundation.
On this World Sight Day, we draw your attention to all the essential nutrients that one must include in their diet for better eye health. Delhi-based nutritionist Lokendra Tomar says, “There are certain nutrients required for good vision. Some of them include lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids. may be. etc.” Here is a list of Indian foods that contain these nutrients and can be a perfect addition to your regular diet.
World Sight Day 2021: 5 common Indian foods that can help promote eye health:
1. Orange:
Oranges are rich in vitamin C, a nutrient known for its immune-boosting properties. Turns out, oranges, along with other vitamin C-rich foods, are great for eye health and help fight inflammatory conditions of the eyes. “Along with maintaining overall health, vitamin C reduces the risk of developing cataracts. It also helps maintain collagen in the cornea,” says consultant nutritionist Rupali Dutta.
Orange helps in improving eyesight
(Also read: Eye health: 5 easy food tips that can help improve vision)
2. Carrots:
We’ve heard our parents and grandparents boast about the benefits of carrots for eye health for as long as we can remember, right? And it turns out, they were right! “Carrots are rich in beta-carotene which gets converted into vitamin A, a nutrient that is good for eye health,” explains Ayurveda expert Ram N Kumar.
Carrots are good for eye health
3. Apricots:
Apricot is a common summer fruit that is also used in Indian cooking; They are then dried and saved for later consumption by many people. According to the book Healing Foods by DK Publishing, the high beta-carotene content in apricots is known to be beneficial for aging eyes.
Apricots can help aging eyes
(Also read: Ayurveda for Eyes: Home Remedies and Diet Tips to Follow During Summer)
4. Ragi:
“Ragi is rich in polyphenols”, says nutritionist and macrobiotic health coach Shilpa Arora. Polyphenols have anti-glaucoma properties and aid in eye health. Ragi also helps manage blood sugar levels and diabetes, which are two common causes of cataracts.
Ragi helps in cataract
5. Amla (Indian Gooseberry):
Amla is a superfood which is considered by almost every Indian. According to Ayurvedic expert Ram N Kumar, “Amla not only helps in boosting immunity but also strengthens our eyesight.” Several studies have further found that the carotene in amla improves vision and promotes overall eye health.
Amla can improve eyesight
There you have it, some common Indian foods that you can include in your diet for better eye health.
Happy World Sight Day, everyone!
Disclaimer: This material, including advice, provides general information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more details. NDTV does not take responsibility for this information.
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