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Healthy Nutrition and Eye Health in Seniors

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Skilled nursing homes place a great deal of importance on healthy nutrition for seniors because it is crucial to their general health. A balanced diet is also essential to ensure good eye health. As older adults are prone to many kinds of vision problems due to varied factors, such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, cataracts, and macular degeneration, they need proper nutrition to keep the risks of these conditions at bay.

Many of the vision problems can be prevented from worsening with good nourishment. Some minerals and vitamins are also known for protecting vision and maintaining eye health. However, as the body processes things differently due to aging in seniors, they need to consume more amounts of these essential nutrients.

Skilled nursing homes have experienced dieticians and nutritionists to prepare the best meal plans for their residents. This ensures that seniors get all the nourishment from their daily food that is needed for marinating their overall health. Besides, it also helps to make sure that their diet does not include anything that is not recommended for their specific condition.

Nutrients Needed For Senior Eye Health

Below are some of the best foods that skilled nursing care homes recommend to promote eye health in seniors. Including these in the daily diet may help to avoid common conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, UV damage, and slow down the progression of age-related macular degeneration as well. Contact Foothill Heights Care Center to hear about our dietary options.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C has a great impact on the overall eye health. Citrus fruits like oranges, limes, and lemons, as well as red peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, blackcurrants, and many other fruits are rich in Vitamin C.

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are found in a lot of berries, such as blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, plums, and prunes. These are water-soluble vacuolar pigments and are known as a powerful antioxidant as well.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are known for their heart health benefits. They are found in fish and other seafood, nuts and seeds, and in plant oils like flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and canola oil.

Antioxidants

The antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, are found to be helpful in promoting healthy vision. Leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, and eggs, grapes, squash, kiwi, and zucchini are rich in these antioxidants.

Beta-Carotene

Beta-carotene is a red-orange pigment found in many fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, winter squash, cantaloupe, apricots, spinach, yellow pepper, and kale. Some of these foods also contain vitamin C, which can give a healthy boost to the overall health of seniors.

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