Cataract: Food that Helps!

Eyes-vision is a precious gift from god. Because of

vision you can see beautiful nature, so it is your

duty to protect your eye. Prevention

is always better than cure. Let us first see-

Why do you get a cataract?

The most common cause of cataract is aging &

injury, it changes the tissue that form your eye’s lenses.

It can be also congenital or due to any

other medical history like diabetes, UV radiation or medication.

Other than these it is also said that

many cataracts are caused by oxidative changes

in your eye lens. The protein in the lens of your eye

is oxidized by destructive molecules called free radicals.

Food can be your medicine. Let’s see

The food that helps you to prevent the cataracts:

Vitamin – A (beta-carotene)

A low intake of vitamin-A can increases the risk

of developing cataract. It also acts as antioxidant that

wash out free radicals formed due to oxidation.

The pure form of vitamin-A that is Retinol, is present only in

animal food sources. In vegetarian food it is present in

the form of beta- carotene. If you are vegetarian, you need

to take four times more food containing Vitamin A as

compared to a non- vegetarian.

The good natural vegetarian source of vitamin-A are:

• Carrot– you can have carrot in salads or you

can just steam or make soup out of it.

Having cooked carrot is more beneficial then taking it raw.

Cooked carrot supply more vitamin-A (bioavailable beta-carotene) than raw.

• Beetroot – similarly, cooked beetroot is more beneficial. You can

have beet root paratha or make soup out of it.

• Green leafy vegetables– It is fully loaded with

Beta-carotene.

 

Vitamin -C

It is known as king of antioxidants. It helps

you to prevent & heal your cataract by destroying

free radicals that are formed in your body.

Good natural vegetarian sources of vitamin-C are:

• Guava– it is local fruit, easily available and cheaper then

other fruits. It is Second highest source of vitamin-C. first is amla.

It has more vitamin-C then your kiwi.

• Papaya-along with vitamin- C, it also

contains other nutrients like vit-A, fibre, enzymes etc.

• Capsicum– it is good source of vitamin-C. but, you need to take it

raw as vitamin-c is bad conductor of heat.

 

Bioflavonoids:

It helps vitamin -C to work properly

Good natural vegetarian sources of bioflavonoids are:

• Black grapes
• Strawberry &
• Pineapple

If your eye is left untreated, you may lose your

eyesight due to cataract. Consult your ophthalmologist

at right time to avoid permanent damage to your eyes.

That’s all for today.

See you next Tuesday with another Tuesday Tip.

Till than…… Take care.

Providing simple solutions for the complexities of life-

Dr Bhumita Makwana

Your Dietitian & Cosmetic Clinician