What you eat can directly affect your eye health and contribute to the avoidance or development of certain eye diseases. Let us highlight the five worst foods for eye health to help you reach your best vision.
1. Pre-Packaged Food, Worst Foods for Eye Health
Pre-packaged foods are notorious for their high sodium content, leading to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can contribute to developing eye diseases such as retinopathy, choroidopathy, and optic neuropathy. To avoid this issue, choose fresh foods or pre-packaged food with low sodium. Add your own spices to regulate the amount!
Examples of pre-packaged food with high sodium include canned goods, tomato sauce, deli meats, hot dogs, bacon, etc.
2. Cooking Oils, Worst Foods for Eye Health
A handful of cooking oils have an excess amount of linoleic acid (unsaturated fat). This is detrimental to eye health, as it can increase your chances of developing age-related macular degeneration. Opt for healthier oils, and stay away from the following:
- Corn oil
- Hydrogenated oils
- Soybean oil
- Sesame oil
- Sunflower oil
- Safflower oil
- Oil with Trans Fats
3. Fried Foods, Worst Foods for Eye Health
Fried foods contribute to increased cholesterol levels which are detrimental to your body, especially your eyes. High cholesterol levels can cause fatty deposits in your eyelid (xanthelasma), a white or gray halo that develops near the cornea (corneal arcus), or blockage in one of your eye’s blood vessels (Hollenhorst plaque). Keeping your cholesterol levels under control is vital for your eye health.
4. Sugary Drinks, Worst Foods for Eye Health
Sugary drinks like sweet tea, soda, and energy drinks have an unhealthy amount of sugar. Consuming these drinks regularly can increase your risk of developing diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Drinking water instead is more beneficial for your eyes and overall health. If you want to learn more about diabetic retinopathy, read two of our latest blogs:
- What are the four stages of diabetic retinopathy?
- Proliferative vs. Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
5. Simple Carbs, Worst Foods for Eye Health
Simple carbohydrates are often found in white bread and pasta. Although delicious, it can cause spikes in blood sugar levels which can lead to age-related macular degeneration and vision loss. Choose healthier carbs, like whole grain bread or brown rice pasta, to protect your eye health.