Well, have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?
Dear valued patients,
While carrots are indeed packed with nutrients beneficial for eye health, there’s more to maintaining clear vision than just munching on carrots. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Did you know that what you eat can significantly impact the progression of eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, and diabetic eye disease by reversing metabolic syndrome? It’s true! The same diet that improves overall health, slows aging, and reverses chronic metabolic diseases is even more critical for your eye health and visual cognition.
So, what does the proper eye-healthy diet look like? It’s a ketogenic diet, where 70% of your calories come from healthy fats and 25-30% from protein. Healthy fats and protein sources include all animal products including meat and dairy, eggs, butter, olive oil, avocado, coconut oil, and nuts. Carbohydrates should be limited, with most coming from complex sources like dark green leafy vegetables—think spinach, kale, collard greens, and turnip greens. Dark green leafy vegetables are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, pigments that deposit in the macula and protect against oxidative damage. And say goodbye to simple carbs like bread, rice, pasta, cereal, and especially sugars!
But that’s not all. Avoid toxic seed oils like canola, corn, and vegetable oil, as they can harm your eyes and overall health. Don’t eat anything that comes in a bag or a box.
Remember, your eyesight is precious. Remember the rabbit and feed them right with the proper diet! It is always easier to prevent disease than treat it.
Warm regards,
Val Zudans, M.D.
