Our eyes and optic nerves are intricate and sensitive structures, second only to the brain as the most complex organs of the body. Yet despite all that complexity, we tend to take our vision somewhat for granted. Often we don’t give our eyes that much thought, until that is, something goes wrong and our vision is affected. This is a growing problem for thousands of New Zealanders.
How can you help support healthy eye function?
Increasing your antioxidant intake is a great place to start. Antioxidants are substances found in plants that support our resistance to a process called oxidative damage which increases with age.
While a nutritious diet of fruit and vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals that are high in antioxidant activity, not all antioxidants are created equal. What’s more, some have shown to be more useful for the health of our eyes than others.
Ginkgo biloba is one such example. It is currently being studied extensively for protective effects to the brain, particularly in regards to supporting blood flow to the eyes, healthy circulation, and in this way helping to support the visual field as we age.
Supporting healthy blood flow to the brain and optic nerve is crucial for maintaining vision. Ginkgo has been shown to support healthy circulation to both the brain and the eyes, providing a plentiful supply of fresh oxygenated blood.
Another promising area of research targets the potent antioxidant activity of anthocyanins – the red, dark blue and purple pigments that can be found in the skins of fruits such as bilberries, black currants and blackberries. These also help to support healthy blood circulation in and around the eyes. NZ grown blackcurrants are known to be very high in anthocyanins, and have been shown to be up to three times higher in antioxidant activity than blueberry and bilberry!
Of course, it’s not all down to what you eat. Sometimes what you avoid is equally important! And limiting your exposure to toxins, pollution and poor diets is a must if you want to preserve good sight now and into the future.