Foods for healthy eyes(स्वस्थ आंखों के लिए फूड्स)

Foods for healthy eyes

Red grapes.

Resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, is an antioxidant that promotes overall eye health. There are lots of kid-friendly ways to serve grapes: you can freeze them or cut them in half, add them to a smoothie and have fun playing with them in between mouthfuls.

 Salmon. 

Omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and trout as well as organic egg yolks (which contain around twice the amount of Omega-3s as eggs from grain-fed factory chickens) are crucial for optimal development of both the retina and brain.

 Mangoes. 

One of the most important nutrients for eye health is lutein, a compound found in the coloured portion of fruits and vegetables. Lutein plays two important roles: it helps protect the eyes from UV rays and it’s a major component of the macula, a part of the eye involved in central vision. In addition to mangoes, lutein can be found in dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, capsicum, egg yolks (organic if possible) carrots, sweet potato and rockmelon.

 Carrots. 

This kid-friendly veggie is rich in vitamin A, a nutrient that protects the health of the cornea (the transparent front part of the eye that covers the pupil). Vitamin A deficiency has been linked to night blindness and an increased risk of contracting pink eye. In addition to carrots, foods with good levels of vitamin A include liver, pate, spinach, sweet potato, parsley and pumpkin.

Water. 

Being adequately hydrated is important to ensure the tear ducts and eyes are frequently flushed of dust, dirt and any other irritants.

 Natural eyecare tips

 Homeopathic remedies are very gentle and effective for children’s eye problems – you can find them at your local health food store or pharmacy. The remedy staphysagria is used to treat styes. For pink eye, I use calc carb to help ease symptoms. And I love the homeopathic remedy silica for blocked tear ducts. (For additional ideas on how to treat styes, pink eye and blocked tear ducts, check out GP Ginni Mansberg’s article on toddler eye health.)

 For a DIY remedy for pink eye, use dried calendula, the herb eyebright, or fennel to make an infusion. These herbs all have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial actions. Mix one teaspoon of dried herb in 100ml of hot water and allow it to steep for five minutes. Once cool, take a cotton pad, soak it in the infusion and wipe from the inside corner of the eye to the outside corner,making sure you use a fresh cotton pad for each wipe.

If you are breastfeeding, you can use breastmilk to wipe your child’s eye because it has strong immune-boosting properties. This is beneficial for any type of eye problem.

 Playing games also supports holistic development of your toddler’s eyes. Some of my favourites are peek-a-boo, and stackable cups/blocks as well as hide and seek. From the age of four, there are exercises that strengthen the muscles of the eye.

 Find out how to encourage your little one to eat more fish.