9 Worst Food Items to Stay Away From for Your Eye Health
Did you know that you can significantly improve your eye health by eating nutritious food & avoiding unhealthy food? Your lifestyle determines your eye health to a greater extent. We are here to introduce you to the 9 worst foods for eye health. You should avoid these foods and drinks as much as possible. Most of them are harmful to your overall health as well.
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Saturated Fats
The saturated fats present in cookies, fried chips, cakes, full-fat dairy, etc., are highly unhealthy for your eyes. Yes, these yummy foods are irresistible, but too many of them are harmful to your overall and eye health. Trade them off with veggies, fruits, low-fat dairy products, lean meat, and fish.
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Fried Food
The fatty oil which is used for cooking these foods doesn’t have many eye-friendly ingredients. Moreover, fried food contribute to raising AMD and cholesterol level. Raised cholesterol clogs your arteries which can lead to vision loss and a stroke. Try to opt for more grilled or boiled food instead of fried food.
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Sugary Drinks
Sugar increases the level of AMD, and it is present in a considerable amount in a sugary drink. Fizzy and sugary drinks also increase the risk of obesity which is responsible for type 2 diabetes. It has severe implications for eye health. The cyclamates in artificial sweeteners are also known to impact vision adversely.
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Margarine
Margarine is marketed as a healthier alternative to butter. But did you know that trans fats present in margarine can significantly raise your cholesterol level? Thus avoid margarine and butter and opt for olive, avocado, and coconut oil.
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White Foods
White foods contain simple carbohydrates. It gives you a rush of energy for some time. But simple carbohydrates don’t have any nutritional value. So add some healthy foods for eye health next time you are making rice or pasta. You can add whole grains, green vegetables, and nuts rich in omega-3 to increase the nutritional value.
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Ready-to-eat Meals
When it comes to the worst foods for eye health, ready meals are arguably on the top spot. These ready-to-eat meals are full of preservative chemicals. They also use sugar as a preservative. The combination of sugar and chemicals is not suitable for your body and eyes. Eat fresh food instead of frozen and ready meals.
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Fatty & Processed Meats
Sausages, bacon, and red meat, which are processed, seem to be convenient options. But let us warn you, a high amount of salt is used to preserve these kinds of meat. It can lead to kidney issues, high B.P., and eventually puffy and swollen eyes. So eat more lean meat like freshly cooked fish and turkey.
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Alcohol
Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to more eye health issues than you can imagine. Eyelid twitching, distorted vision, and slowed pupillary reactions can all be the consequences of drinking too much alcohol. You can even damage your optic nerve leading to gradual vision loss. So avoid alcohol entirely or drink in moderation.
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Condiments, Toppings & Dressings
Use toppings like salad dressing, jelly, and mayonnaise in limited quantities. They also come in the category of unhealthy food for your eyes as they are mostly full of unhealthy fats. So next time you are making a sandwich or a burger, try using more veggies and lemon for vitamin C.
Take Away!
You can’t ban all these foodstuffs from your diet entirely. We are only asking you to have everything in moderation and search for healthy alternatives to all the unhealthy food you eat. Also, don’t forget to do some eye exercise daily!
