With age and the wear and tear of the eye muscles, our eye health undergoes rapid deterioration. We usually don’t give it much consideration but experience the strain and the discomfort later on in life.
Making dietary and lifestyle changes are two ways we can save our eyes from further degeneration and eye problems.
Including foods rich in Vitamin A and essential fatty acids and spending less time staring at our phones and computers will definitely go a long way in safeguarding our eyes.
Read Yoga for your eyes
FOOD FOR BETTER EYE-HEALTH:
Including foods rich in Vitamin A won’t ensure a reduction in the power of our spectacles, but it will…
- help improve eye health,
- look after the surface of the eyes,
- improve night vision,
- and, lessen the risk of vision loss due to muscular degeneration that comes with ageing.
Omega 3 fatty acids also help keep the eyes healthy.
- They reduce the instances of dry eyes,
- Reduce the inflammation associated with dry eyes
- and reduce muscular degeneration.
Essential fatty acids (EFA) are required for the proper functioning of our organs. And, as our body cannot produce these, we need to obtain these from dietary sources.
Omega 3 fatty acids are one such type of fatty acids that ensure good eye health.
These are found in high quantities in seafood, nuts, and seeds.
Seeds are a great way for vegetarians to incorporate Omega 3 fats in their daily diet.
- Chia seeds are a native of Mexico.
- Flax seeds have been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years. But, because depending upon locally-grown food makes sense, let’s focus on flax seeds.
Flax seeds are rich in:
Omega 3 fatty acids
Proteins
Fiber
Magnesium
Manganese.
These are not just beneficial for the eyes, but for our overall health.
HOW TO INCLUDE FLAXSEED IN YOUR DAILY DIET:
Roasted flax seeds can be eaten just like that or added to breakfast cereals or salads to increase their nutritional value.
Roasted and ground flax seeds are easier to digest and can be had first thing in the morning with a mugful of warm water.
The powder can also be added to yogurt and salads.
RECIPE:
Dry roast flax seeds in a thick-bottomed pan.
Once cool, grind them finely in your grinder.
Store the powder in an air-tight jar.
Have a teaspoon of this powder in the morning on an empty stomach.
*As the powder sticks to the teeth, gums and the palete, drink warm water soon after eating the flax seeds powder. It will help clean your mouth.
REMEDY FOR DRY EYES:
A simple remedy for dry eyes consists of using artificial tears, or lubricant eye drops.
These are available over the counter at your chemist’s. But, you may also enquire about it at your ophthalmologist’s.
Just a couple of drops after you finish your work on your computer or phones will reduce the irritation or the burning sensation your eyes suffer due to the dryness.
Try and do away with your contact lens, too, if you suffer from dry eyes. The discomfort you suffer while wearing your lens will further aggravate the problem.
I quit using my contact lens when I started feeling the lens slipping off the surface of my eyes.
I use the artificial tear drops after laptop use and at bedtime.
Wash your eyes with cold water each time you finish your screen-related work. And, when you are working, remember to blink often as that will help keep the eyes moist.
Make sure the screen of your computer is at or below eye level and at an arm’s distance from your eyes.
Finally, remember the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away from your screens at a distance of 20 feet for 20 seconds.
Look after your eyes. This is the only pair you have!
Love,
SHILPA.
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Very informative
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Thank you for reading! 😊
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I have heard so much about flaxseed, I should grab a bag. Can it be used in cooking? Excellent tips for eyes Shilpa.
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I keep forgetting about the 20-20 rule when engrossed in writing or reading. Taking a break also helps in accessing priorities when we spend too much time on social media.
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We all tend to forget it, Raj. I too get carried away while typing a post as the words keep coming so fast. But, the moment I begin feeling the strain I realize my eyes are tired, so I look away.
Thank you for reading, dear! ❤
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Oh I wasn’t aware flax seeds were good for the eyes. I just thought they were good for the hair. My BIL, a marathon runner insists they’re great for the metabolism too. Can we give them to kids too?
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Of course, kids can have flax seeds or the powder, too. But, I am doubtful they will eat it just like that as it tends to stick to the mouth and can get rather irritating for kids. You could add it to their food or sprinkle it on salads or yogurts.
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I’ll be starting the 20-20-20 rule from like RIGHT NOW!
I love flax seeds and use it a lot in my cooking. From salad toppings to smoothies, it goes everywhere for me.
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You are a good girl, Soumya. I know how well you care about your diet and health. ❤
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I have a packet of flax seeds stashed away in the kitchen drawer. This afternoon I will dry roast them and grind them for sure. I knew about them being rich in Omega 3 fat but wasn’t aware of them being good for the eyes too.
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Hey, did you make that flaxseeds powder? it’s the one thing I am proud of doing–the best way to begin my day. It’s really the least we can do for ourselves. 🙂 ❤
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I tried but in the absence of a grinder, I couldn’t get it done 😪
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Aww! No grinder? Then, roast the seeds and have them.
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I knew that they were good for keeping cholesterol in check, had no clue they were good for the eyes too. I add them to my overnight oats.
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Adding it to oats sounds good, Corinne! I will try adding the powder to my raita today. I just love the taste of the powder so much! 🙂 ❤
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I did not know flaxseeds were good for the eye. Thanks for sharing.
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I, too, learned about it only after I started having it.
Thanks for reading, Damyanti!
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Super helpful. I use flax seeds on and off but I did not know they were so good for eyes. Thanks for sharing, Shilpa.
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Do make it a part of your everyday diet, Parul. You will reap the benefits in the long run.
Thank you for reading! ❤
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Welcome back, Shilpa. My husband is a fan of flax seeds and I learnt it from him to use in recipes. He mixes them in the atta while making chapathi and adds a teaspoon to many of his recipes without any reason other than it’s healthy 😆 Glad to know it helps the eyes too. I blinked like a 100 times while I read this post. I bet I do this often. 😚
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Hahaha! I too blinked so many times even as I wrote this post. 😛 It’s something that’s so necessary, but which we forget all the time.
Lucky you are, Jaya, to have a hubby who is not only a chef but also a nutrition expert! 🙂
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Wow I learned so much from this post! I never knew about the 20/20/20 rule, I’m glad I do now. Also, I knew flax seeds were good for you but I guess I didn’t realize how good they are for your eyes. Also, I didn’t know you could grind flax seeds and take a teaspoon with water and it would make much a difference.
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I am glad this post was of help to you, Feliicia. Thank you for reading! 🙂
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Very informative! As a plant based eater I already use flax seeds in my diet for fiber and binders in most baking recipes. I never considered the benefits that they would have on eyesight. Tiny little seeds that pack such a major punch on so many levels.
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Oh yes, tiny seeds that are so helpful to our entire system.
Thank you for reading, Denawa!
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Will surely try to follow the exercises for eyes. Thanks for writing
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DO try, Manjiri. It does help the eyes a lot.
Thank you for visiting! 🙂
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I had no idea that flax seeds are so good for eye health! But I eat plenty of them because I know that they have amazing health benefits and it is a great source of plant based protein. I love to add them to my yogurt, to salads and I also soak them then add them to my morning smoothies. It is really not hard to add this super food to my daily diet.
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You are doing a really good job of using flax seeds to your diet on an everyday basis, Lynne.
It takes time, but we do notice the difference it makes to our health.
Thank you for reading! 🙂
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