What Else Should I Eat?

Lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids have all been proven to be good for our bodies and especially eyes. But what are they?

• Lutein and Zeaxanthin: are carotenoids- that is, natural coloring agents that can do some pretty awesome jobs in plants and the body. There are over 600 known carotenoids. Plants contain carotenoids to help them convert sunlight into nutrients. People can eat carotenoids to get their vitamins; for instance beta-carotene is a carotenoid that becomes vitamin A in the small intestine. Carotenoids like lutein and zeaxathin are naturally found in our eyes as a defense against ultra-violet light (uv). These important nutrients diminish over time so we need to eat foods that will help us replenish them. You can get your lutein and zeaxanthin from plants that use a lot of them in photosynthesis. Look for deep yellow and green foods like corn, broccoli, collard greens, asparagus and spinach.
  
  
• Omega-3 fatty acids: For a body to be healthy you can’t eat any fat, right? Well, it turns out there are different kinds of fat- the good kind and the bad kind. The fat used to make fried foods like french fries is generally the bad kind. The good kind helps us to absorb vitamins, especially Vitamin A and E which are good for the eyes. To get your good fat, or the omega-3 fatty acids, eat fish like salmon, tuna and trout.