Over 50%of Americans develop cataracts by age 75. After age 75 the percentage jumps to 70%.
What are cataracts? When the lens of your eye becomes permanently cloudy instead of clear, you have a cataract. This develops slowly over the years slowly causing blurry vision and then turning colors dull. some people may also experience double vision and a sensitivity to light.eventually the lens becomes yellow or milky white. If left untreated you will go blind.
What can you do to to prevent cataracts and other vision problems? Make sure your putting the right things into your body and avoid the harmful things.
Make sure your getting plenty of vitamin A in your diet. Meats and dairy products contain vitamin A but another source is bright yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apricots and sweet potatoes.These contain beta carotene which the body converts into vitamin A. Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and collard greens contain luetein and zeaxanthin which also convert into vitamin A.
Be sure to eat tuna, whole wheat bread, potatoes and mushrooms so you can get plenty of B vitamins in your diet. also eating a bowel of fortified cereal each morning will give you niacin,thiamin, and riboflavin which are the essential B vitamins.
Vitamin C play’s an important role in protecting your eyes from free radicals. Oranges, tangerines, lemons, strawberries, cantaloupe, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet red peppers and and sweet potatoes are rich sources of vitamin C.
Vitamin E can cut you risk of getting cataracts in half. You find E in wheat germ, sunflower seeds, nuts, whole grains, and brown rice.
Cut back on salt. A high salt diet could mean a higher risk of developing cataracts.Use other spices to flavor your food. Turmeric is one spice that has been shown to fight off cataracts in animal studies.
To much fat in your diet, alcohol, and smoking all increase you risk of cataracts. Watch your fat intake and limit your alcohol to no more then two drinks each day. Oh, and quit smoking.
Some drugs and herbal remedies may increase your risk of cataracts so ask questions when your doctor or naturopath prescribes a treatment or supplement.
Some other risk factors include: diabetes, family history, exposure to radiation, poor diet, electrical shock
