Glaucoma-unfriendly foods: Identifying them and strategies to prevent complications
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Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, affects millions of people, including around three million Americans. This eye condition is characterised by a buildup of fluid pressure in the eye, which can potentially lead to vision loss.
People with glaucoma are advised to maintain a balanced diet to support eye health and potentially reduce disease progression. Here's a breakdown of what to eat and avoid.
Foods to Incorporate
A diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and nitrates is beneficial for those with glaucoma. Leafy green vegetables and beets, rich in dietary nitrates, can help lower glaucoma risk by improving eye blood circulation. Colorful fruits, such as oranges, peaches, and blackcurrants, are also recommended due to their high antioxidant content.
Seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like tuna, salmon, and sardines, supports retinal function and tear production. Nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts, are also beneficial, as they are high in vitamins E, C, beta-carotene, and B vitamins.
In moderation, antioxidant-rich plant foods, omega-3-rich foods, and polyphenol-rich tea can provide additional benefits.
Foods to Avoid
People with glaucoma should avoid foods high in sodium, saturated fats, sugar, and ultra-processed foods. These can increase eye pressure and worsen glaucoma risk or progression. Examples of refined carbohydrates to avoid include white bread, bagels, wraps, white pasta, rice, processed breakfast cereals, cakes, cookies, chips, and snacks.
Avoiding sugary foods helps manage weight and diabetes, examples include sweets, candy, baked goods, ice creams, sauces, syrups, processed foods, and sweetened beverages. People with glaucoma must also be cautious with their caffeine intake, as excessive coffee consumption can increase intraocular pressure.
Other Considerations
Maintaining a moderate weight and blood pressure can help reduce the risk of glaucoma. A balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, oily fish, and tea is recommended. The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that UV rays may cause a type of glaucoma, so wearing quality polarized sunglasses and a hat when outdoors is recommended.
There is emerging evidence that metabolic deficiencies may play a role in the development of glaucoma. Vitamin A, ginkgo biloba, saffron, curcumin, vitamins B3 and D may be beneficial for glaucoma.
Family members can discuss ways to protect vision health, as open-angle glaucoma is hereditary. Diabetes increases the risk of glaucoma, so people with diabetes must manage their blood sugar to prevent this complication.
Medical Treatment
Doctors treat glaucoma with medications or surgery to reduce eye pressure and prevent vision loss. Modifying the diet may be a beneficial addition to medical treatment for glaucoma.
The CDC recommends getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam annually, starting at age 40. Regular check-ups are crucial for early detection and effective management of glaucoma.
In summary, a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular eye exams are key to managing glaucoma and reducing the risk of vision loss.
- Science has shown that glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, affects millions, with around three million Americans afflicted.
- This eye condition is characterized by a buildup of fluid pressure in the eye, potentially leading to vision loss.
- People with glaucoma are advised to maintain a balanced diet to support eye health and potentially reduce disease progression.
- A diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and nitrates is beneficial for those with glaucoma.
- Leafy green vegetables and beets, rich in dietary nitrates, can help lower glaucoma risk by improving eye blood circulation.
- Colorful fruits, such as oranges, peaches, and blackcurrants, are recommended due to their high antioxidant content.
- Seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like tuna, salmon, and sardines, supports retinal function and tear production.
- Nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts, are beneficial, as they are high in vitamins E, C, beta-carotene, and B vitamins.
- In moderation, antioxidant-rich plant foods, omega-3-rich foods, and polyphenol-rich tea can provide additional benefits.
- People with glaucoma should avoid foods high in sodium, saturated fats, sugar, and ultra-processed foods.
- These can increase eye pressure and worsen glaucoma risk or progression.
- Examples of refined carbohydrates to avoid include white bread, bagels, wraps, white pasta, rice, processed breakfast cereals, cakes, cookies, chips, and snacks.
- Avoiding sugary foods helps manage weight and diabetes, examples include sweets, candy, baked goods, ice creams, sauces, syrups, processed foods, and sweetened beverages.
- People with glaucoma must also be cautious with their caffeine intake, as excessive coffee consumption can increase intraocular pressure.
- Maintaining a moderate weight and blood pressure can help reduce the risk of glaucoma.
- A balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, oily fish, and tea is recommended.
- The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that UV rays may cause a type of glaucoma, so wearing quality polarized sunglasses and a hat when outdoors is recommended.
- There is emerging evidence that metabolic deficiencies may play a role in the development of glaucoma.
- Vitamin A, ginkgo biloba, saffron, curcumin, vitamins B3 and D may be beneficial for glaucoma.
- Family members can discuss ways to protect vision health, as open-angle glaucoma is hereditary.
- Diabetes increases the risk of glaucoma, so people with diabetes must manage their blood sugar to prevent this complication.
- Medical treatment for glaucoma includes medications or surgery to reduce eye pressure and prevent vision loss.
- Modifying the diet may be a beneficial addition to medical treatment for glaucoma.
- The CDC recommends getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam annually, starting at age 40.
- Regular check-ups are crucial for early detection and effective management of glaucoma.
- In summary, a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular eye exams are key to managing glaucoma and reducing the risk of vision loss.
- These considerations also extend to overall health and workplace-wellness, as chronic diseases such as cancer, respiratory conditions, digestive-health issues, and neurological disorders can be managed through a balanced lifestyle, fitness-and-exercise, and therapies-and-treatments.
- Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing medical-conditions, including cardiovascular-health, skin-care, and autoimmune-disorders.
- Education-and-self-development, personal-growth, mindfulness, productivity, career-development, job-search, and goal-setting are essential for maintaining a balanced lifestyle and managing stress, which can impact health-and-wellness in various ways.
