Sight Day 2020: With the increasing usage of mobile phones, televisions and other electronic gadgets, a poor vision has been one of the major concerns today. Almost every one of us spends most of our time staring at phones and laptops - both for work and entertainment purposes. In fact, we hardly offer any kind of rest to our eyes. This results in stress that further leads to several eye-related problems. Besides these lifestyle issues, increasing level of pollution and malnutrition/under-nutrition play major roles in the deterioration of eye health. Hence, health experts around the world often recommend well-balanced nutrition on a daily basis to strengthen the vision and overall eye health.
To further raise awareness among people about blindness, vision impairment and other eye-related problems, World Sight Day is celebrated annually across the globe on the second Thursday of October. This year, it will be marked on October 8, 2020. As per the World Health Organisation, "1 billion people around the world have a preventable vision impairment or one that has yet to be addressed. Reduced or absent eyesight can have major and long-lasting effects on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, interacting with the community, school and work opportunities and the ability to access public services."
This World Sight Day 2020, we bring you some natural food options that can help nourish your eyes. Speaking about the same, consultant nutritionist Rupali Datta stated, "There are several vitamins that can help in keeping your eyes healthy. One such example is vitamin C. Abundantly found in our everyday diet, it is one of the most impactful antioxidants for our body. Alongside maintaining overall health, vitamin C lowers the risk of developing cataract. It also helps maintain the collagen in the cornea."
Moreover, several studies have inferred that regular consumption of vitamin C may reduce the risk of cataract and vision loss due to macular degeneration.
"Some of the vitamin C-enriched fruits that can be included in your regular diet are citrus fruits, amla, papaya, tomato, guava and mango," Datta added.
Also Read: Vitamins for Good Eyesight: Foods That Can Help Nourish Your Eyes
World Sight Day 2020: Let's Find Out Why These Fruits Are Good For Eye Health:
1. Citrus Fruits:
Fruits like lemon, sweet lime, oranges etc are a great source of vitamin C that boosts the functioning of our eyes. It also prevents us from the inflammatory condition of eyes.
2. Amla (Indian Gooseberry):
As per Ayurvedic expert Ram N Kumar, "Amla not only help boost immunity but also strengthen our eyesight." Several studies have further found that carotene in amla improves vision and promote overall eye health.
3. Papaya:
Papaya is loaded with antioxidants and beta-carotene and aids eye health and vision. Alongside, papaya contains lutein and zeaxanthin that are known to prevent our eyes from UV rays.
4. Tomato:
The key content of tomatoes is compounds called lutein and lycopene. These carotenoids may help protect our eyes from light-induced damages.
5. Guava:
Guava is a potent source of vitamin A and C, which are known to boost vision. This fruit not only helps improve eyesight but also prevent against degradation of eyesight.
6. Mango:
The beta-carotene-content of mango is known to lower the effects of free-radical damages in our eyes. It is also a good source of vitamin A and protects us against dry eyes, itchiness etc.
This World Sight Day 2020, let's pledge for a healthy lifestyle for strong eye health!