According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.2 billion people worldwide have distance or near vision impairment.
Our diets play a major role in protecting our vision as we age. Normal blood pressure and heart health are critical to senior vision. Eating an eye-healthy diet can regulate both conditions and protect your eyesight.
Older adults in the Jackson Meadow senior living community in Jackson, TN, enjoy a high-quality life and access to healthy foods. So, which foods do they avoid?
Below are six of the worst foods for eye health that seniors at Jackson Meadow should avoid.
Simple carbohydrates, especially those in white bread and pasta, are quickly digested and absorbed. For this reason, they can increase your blood sugar levels. Rapid spikes in blood sugar may strain the pancreas, which helps keep the sugar levels steady.
When the pancreas is stressed, its functioning is affected, leading to elevated blood glucose. Additionally, this can result in chronic accumulation of toxins and inflammation that can harm cells.
Over time, this accumulation of toxins can affect cells in the eye that maintain visual acuity and eye health. Degeneration of eye cells can lead to various age-related diseases, including the following:
Therefore, as a senior at Jackson Meadow independent living community, you should limit your intake of foods that harm your vision. This helps to reduce the probability of toxins affecting your eye cells. Instead, opt for whole-grain bread and pasta, which are digested slowly and don't lead to spikes in blood glucose.
Drinks such as lemonade, sweet tea, energy drinks, and soda have high sugar levels. Consuming these drinks puts older adults in senior living in Jackson, TN, at high risk of heart problems and Type 2 diabetes. These health conditions can lead to AMD and diabetic retinopathy.
Be mindful of how many sodas or energy drinks you take daily; remember, one soft drink has 37 grams of sugar.
Prepackaged foods contain high levels of sodium, which can negatively affect your body. According to the American Heart Association, processed foods with the highest levels of sodium include the following:
A diet with too much sodium is likely to cause hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. Hypertension is related to senior vision problems like blood vessel damage and diabetic retinopathy, which can eventually lead to blindness.
For senior vision care, you should always check for labels written "low sodium" in prepackaged foods. This measure will help keep your sodium consumption in check.
Like prepackaged foods, most processed meats contain high amounts of sodium, which can cause high blood pressure and serious eye conditions. Examples of processed meats include hot dogs, deli meats, and bacon.
Taking high quantities of sodium in processed meats can also lead to choroidopathy, which causes an excess buildup of fluid below the retina. Additionally, sodium is related to neuropathy, a blockage in blood flow.
For optimal eye health, especially in seniors living independently in Jackson, TN, it's recommended that processed meats be consumed in moderation or avoided altogether.
Cooking methods that involve high heat can increase toxin levels, damage body cells, and lead to the development of health conditions. These methods are popular in making fried foods such as egg rolls, French fries, and doughnuts.
Additionally, frying increases the number of trans fats found in cooking oils, which can lead to inflammation. This inflammation causes high levels of toxins in your body that can destroy and kill cells, including those in your eyes. So, consuming too much fried food can result in diabetic retinopathy and AMD in Jackson Meadow seniors.
Excessive intake of alcohol is harmful to aging adults and their eyesight. Too much alcohol can cause dehydration, which leads to irritation and dryness in your eyes. Further, heavy drinking is related to a high risk of optic nerve damage and cataracts, which can affect your vision in the long run.
Alcohol may also lead to poor night vision in older adults. Seniors who indulge in too much drinking may experience difficulty seeing contrast. Their vision may also be affected in conditions with low light.
Now that we know the worst foods related to aging and eyesight, which foods should you incorporate into your diet to maintain eye health? As a senior living in Jackson Meadow, making necessary dietary changes is important to reduce your risk of vision-related problems like glaucoma and AMD.
Below are some foods to include in your eye-healthy diet:
At Jackson Meadow senior living community, we use the finest natural ingredients to prepare delicious homestyle meals for our residents daily. Seniors are served in a restaurant-style setting with personalized tableside service. You can also enjoy various finger-licking meals from the comfort of your home.
In addition to eating an eye-healthy diet, schedule an eye exam regularly to ensure your eyes are healthy. Eye exams, especially for older adults, are important as they detect early symptoms of age-related vision problems. This way, you take the necessary measures to keep your eyesight in check.
Our diets play an important role in the function of our bodies, including our eyesight. As a senior in Jackson Meadow, it's important to prioritize an eye-healthy diet to take care of your vision and overall well-being. For optimal eye health, avoid consuming the worst foods for eye health discussed above.
Jackson Meadow, a provisional senior living community in Jackson, Tennessee, provides a maintenance-free lifestyle with an option of supportive services at an affordable rate. Our one- and two-bedroom apartments feature a contemporary kitchenette for residents who prefer preparing healthy homemade foods.
Contact us today and discover independent living with the comfort of support.