Omega-3 Fatty Acids and How They Affect Your Eyes
If you don’t currently suffer from eye problems or bad eyesight, eye health can be easily overlooked. An easy way to make sure you are staying on top of your eye health and avoiding any future problems from developing is by ensuring that you’re getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet or through supplements.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, certain types of fats are essential nutrients that keep our bodies healthy and functioning properly. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid (which are the building blocks of fat) that is necessary to our diets, because our bodies can’t produce them naturally. Studies have shown that Omega-3 in particular is important for maintaining good eye health.
Benefits of Taking Omega 3 Supplements
Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids offer unique health benefits for infants and adults alike. In infants, regular intake of omega-3s has been shown to be necessary for vision development. For adults, an omega-3 rich diet has been shown to help prevent against macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye syndrome is a condition that affects eyes by reducing tear production (tears clean out and lubricate your eyes), and can cause ocular irritation and infection. It’s an uncomfortable condition, and if not taken care of, it can lead to more serious vision problems. A combination of increasing omega-3 intake and using eye drops can help alleviate the symptoms of dry eye.
Essential fatty acids like omega-3s may also help aid proper drainage of intraocular fluid in the eye, which decreases the risk of glaucoma and high eye pressure.
Food Sources for Obtaining Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids can only be absorbed by the body when ingested orally. The best source of Omega-3 is cold-water fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines. Farmed fish is usually subject to higher levels of chemicals and pollutants, so wild-caught varieties are commonly thought to provide higher levels of health benefits.
The American Heart Association recommends that adults should be eating cold-water fish twice per week to maintain healthy levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy eyes.
If you’re a vegetarian (or you just don’t like fish), Omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in walnuts, dark green leafy vegetables, and flaxseed. However, your body isn’t able to process the omega-3 fatty acids found in plant-based sources as easily as omega-3s found in cold-water fish.
Supplemental Versions of Omega-3s: High Quality Is Important
The unfortunate truth is that the majority of American diets are deficient when it comes to including omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. Fortunately, for those interested in boosting their omega-3 levels and enjoying the health benefits that accompany it, omega-3 supplements can be a great place to start.
Take control of your health today with high quality omega-3 supplements – Beaumont Vision offers them to all of our clients at a great value, so be sure to inquire about them during your next scheduled eye examination!