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Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in many countries. There's no sure way to prevent it, but making some lifestyle changes can lower your chances of developing cataracts. Let's see more about how to prevent cataracts.
3 Most Effective Cataract Prevention Ways
Here are the 3 most effective ways to prevent cataracts;
1. Eat right
The first cataract prevention is by eating right. You can't do anything about your age or family history, but you can change your diet.
Some research suggests that eating foods high in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E can help prevent cataracts. If you already have cataracts, it can slow their growth.
Good sources of vitamin C include:
- Oranges (oranges, grapefruit, limes, etc.)
- Tomato and tomato juice
- Red and green peppers
- Kiwifruit
- Broccoli
- Strawberry
- Brussels sprouts
- Cantaloupe
- Potato
For vitamin E, look for vegetable oils like sunflower, safflower, or wheat germ. Nuts, especially almonds, are also a good source of vitamin E. So are peanuts. So are green vegetables like spinach and broccoli. Some foods contain extra vitamin E. Check the info on the packaging to be sure.
You may not have heard of lutein and zeaxanthin. These are two more vitamins that can help protect your eyes from cataracts. Eggs have it, as do green leafy vegetables.
Make sure you eat fruits and vegetables every day. Five servings can provide more than 100 milligrams of vitamin C and 5 to 6 milligrams of lutein and zeaxanthin. Just two servings of nuts can provide 8 to 14 milligrams of vitamin E.
If you find it difficult to incorporate all of these into your daily diet, consider a multivitamin or supplement. But always talk to your doctor first.
2. Quit smoking
Prevention of the second cataract is to stop smoking. You know that smoking is not good for your lungs and heart, but it is also very bad for your eyes. When it comes to cataracts, smoking is a risk factor that you can control.
Smoking creates more free radicals in your eyes. These are chemicals that damage cells. Antioxidants, all the good chemicals you get from fruits and vegetables, fight the bad chemicals. But smoking kills the good chemicals. And it produces a lot of toxins that can cause cataracts.
If you break the habit, it can help prevent cataracts, even if you have smoked a lot over a long period of time. Talk to your doctor about programs and medications that can help you quit.
3. Limit Alcohol
The third cataract prevention is to limit alcohol. You don't have to give up that glass of wine with dinner. But there is some evidence that drinking too much alcohol may increase the risk of cataracts.
Studies have shown that if you drink less than two standard-sized drinks each day, your chances of developing cataracts may be lower than if you never drink at all. But research also shows that drinking more than two drinks a day (about 20 grams of alcohol), increases the odds.
