Dry eyes can be caused by many things, from hormonal changes to the use of some cosmetics. There are many ways to deal with dry eyes, one of which is by eating some foods that contain certain vitamins and nutrients. Then what nutrients can help overcome dry eyes?
The best nutrition for dealing with dry eyes
Dry eyes are characterized by itching, redness of the eyes, mucus appearing in the eye area, feeling tired in the eyes, and blurred vision.
You can overcome this dry eye condition by changing your nutritional choices with foods that contain some of the following vitamins and nutrients.
1. Vitamin A
Dry eyes can be associated with a condition of vitamin A deficiency. This lack of vitamin A most often occurs due to inadequate intake of vitamin A sources.
Basically, vitamin A nutrition does have an important role in maintaining healthy eyes so they don’t dry out. The need for vitamin A that should be met in one day is around 600 mcg.
Relax, you don’t need to take vitamin A supplements if your intake is sufficient to meet your vitamin A needs. You can rely on several types of foods that contain vitamin A such as eggs, milk, broccoli, carrots, various types of green leafy vegetables, and fruits.
2. Vitamin D
A new study has proven that vitamin D deficiency is associated with dry eye conditions. Vitamin D is related to dry eyes because this vitamin has a role in preventing inflammation or infection.
Research says that this type of fat-soluble vitamin can prevent dryness in the eyes by stimulating tear production and keeping the eyes from experiencing inflammation.
The need for vitamin D that you must meet in one day is as much as 20 mcg. You don’t need to take supplements if you eat foods that contain high vitamin D, such as milk, beef, and chicken. In addition, you can also get vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
3. Omega 3
These good fatty acids are not only healthy for your heart but also for your dry eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that dry eyes can also be caused by a lack of omega-3 intake in food.
Several studies have also proven that omega 3 can prevent and treat dry eye conditions. In a study it was stated that omega 3 helps circulate fluids in the eye so that the eyes will not dry due to lack of fluids.
According to The US Food and Drug Administration, consuming omega-3 fatty acids – whether from food or supplements – should not exceed 3 grams per day. Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, namely, various kinds of sea fish such as sardines, tuna, and salmon.