UMass Medical School: Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations for Healthy Eyes

UMass Medical Center’s Johanna M. Seddon, MD has compiled a list of recommendations for healthy eyes, involving both Diet and Lifestyle suggestions, Dr. Seddon is a Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Retina, and Director of Macular Degeneration Center of Excellence. The recommendations for food consist of one main commonality: lots of vibrant colors! “Eating the rainbow” is certainly helpful guidance for foods to consume for eye health. Leafy greens, Spinach, Blueberries, Oranges, Strawberries, and Sweet Potatoes are just a few excellent sources of vitamins and minerals to optimize eye health. Diet recommendations also emphasize the importance of consuming healthy fats such as egg yolks, salmon, and walnuts.

Some other important recommendations are consuming whole grains, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, and green tea.

Lifestyle recommendations provided in the guide stress the importance of exercise and physical activity. Avoidance of processed foods, foods high in sugar or salt, or foods high in saturated or trans fats were recommended, but this is a strong recommendation for overall nutritional health. The guide also advises avoiding smoking and encourages protecting the eyes from too much exposure to the sun. Nutrition is such an amazing field, it works not only to prioritize overall health and wellness but can target specific parts of our body. Next time you consume a colorful plate, be proud of the steps you took towards optimizing your eye health!

Written by: Elizabeth Hoffman, Ellen Byron & Associates