Foods That Are Bad for Your Eyes

Nutrition plays a vital role in everything related to your wellbeing, including your eye health. In a time when people have more dietary choices than ever before, here are foods that you should avoid to reap the benefits of improved health and better vision. 

Medical professionals and your eye doctor recommend limiting or avoiding the consumption of the following types of foods.

High-Sodium Foods - Consuming foods with high sodium or salt content can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure, which restricts blood flow to the eyes and affects vision. Ideally, you should eat no more than 2,300 milligrams daily, which is the equivalent of one teaspoon. 

Examples of high-sodium foods include:

Processed Lunchmeats - Lunch meats are convenient, but many contain lots of sodium. Many varieties of bologna, salami, and other deli meats have high amounts of sodium.

Canned Soups - While there is nothing quite as comforting as eating soup when you're feeling under the weather, many varieties of canned soup have high sodium content.

Frozen Foods - Undoubtedly, frozen foods make life more convenient. Calorie-controlled meal options can make life easier for dieters, and simplify dinnertime in many households with family-style entrees. However, many frozen style meal options contain large amounts of sodium.

Foods With High Sugar Content - Eating large amounts of sugary foods can also prove detrimental to your health, and subsequently, your eye health. Overconsumption of sugar-laden foods can lead to obesity and diabetes, which can adversely affect eyesight. 

When shopping, be sure to read nutritional labels, as sugar commonly gets added to many items you don't associate with being particularly "sugary." Examples of food items with hidden sugar include pasta sauce, yogurt, salad dressings, dried fruits, granola bars, and breakfast cereals.

Fatty Foods - Foods that are high in fat content can contribute to heart disease, hardening of the arteries, and a myriad of other health issues that can impact your overall health and vision. It's worth noting that some types of fat are healthier than others, such as foods with Omega-3 fatty acids. 

Luckily, if you have a craving for traditionally "unhealthy" food, you have more options than ever before to prepare a healthier version from home. Air fryers and convection ovens are effective at cooking foods such as french fries, onion rings, fried chicken, fried fish, and seafood without extra oil, grease, and calories.

Foods That Promote Eye Health

Your eye doctor might also recommend adding foods such as curly kale, carrots, sweet potatoes, and citrus fruits to your diet to support a healthier lifestyle and eyesight. If you have questions about other steps you can take to improve your vision, schedule an appointment with the professionals at Elite Eyecare of Abilene today.