You know the saying, “You are what you eat”? The food you eat plays a huge part in your health.
Our eyes are vascular, meaning that it is important to have a heart-healthy diet to keep the blood vessels that service our eyes healthy. Tiny capillaries provide your retina with nutrients and oxygen; because these vessels are so small, fatty deposits can easily cause blocked veins.
We’ve shared with you the foods that will boost your eye health. Now, our expert team of doctors have compiled a list of the foods that are harmful to the health of your eyes.
CONDIMENTS, TOPPINGS, AND DRESSINGS
The toppings that you likely store in your refrigerator door like mayonnaise, salad dressing, or jelly, are all high in fat.
Rather than using these options for flavor on your next sandwich, burger, or salad, try using natural flavors like green vegetables or toppings that are packed with vitamin C, like a squeeze of fresh lemon. Get great flavor with natural foods without sacrificing your nutritional benefits!
WHITE OR PLAIN COLORED FOODS
Think about the white foods that you eat: pasta, white bread, rice, and flour tortillas. These foods offer almost no nutritional benefit, just simple carbohydrates that give a rush of energy that are followed by a crash.
If you are eating these foods, be sure to add greens and foods that rich with omega-3 to the meal to provide yourself with nutritional benefits. Or, swap them for healthier alternatives that use whole grains.
FATTY MEATS
Red meats and sausages are often convenient to purchase, especially when you are buying from the deli. Lunch meats can seem healthy but are mostly full of chemical preservatives, salt, fat, and cholesterol.
Instead of consuming fatty meats, try adding in lean meats like fresh turkey, which is full of zinc and protein. Salmon is good alternative as well, as it is an omega-3 rich food.
MARGARINE
Margarine is often marketed as a healthy alternative to butter, but is full of trans fats that can adversely affect your cholesterol.
Instead, try using coconut, avocado, or olive oil as an alternative to both margarine and butter to avoid trans fats.
SATURATED FATS
Junk foods are delicious but can cause serious issues down the line for your health if you consume too many. Rather than eating French fries, cookies, or potato chips, which are all full of saturated fats, swap them out for healthier unsaturated fats.
Lean meats, fish, fresh fruits and veggies, and low-fat or non-dairy products are the best way to receive healthy fats.
This post originally appeared on RxOptical.