You can improve your vision naturally by eating foods that are good for your eyes. When it comes to fruits and vegetables some tasty foods that improve eyesight are oranges, apples, grapes, tangerines and watermelons to name a few. However, when it comes to eye foods, the grapefruit doesn’t always get the best grade in terms of taste preference. For example, due to its tart, and slightly bitter taste, some people tend to scrunch their faces up when the name of this fruit is mentioned. Nevertheless, it does have a certain tinge of sweetness that can still tend to make it a fruit that becomes an acquired taste for some people. Even though you may not be a fan of the grapefruit, due to its tart flavor, there is one incentive that would make you eager to include this fruit in your diet. That incentive is the fact that it is loaded with tons of vitamins and minerals and therefore offers many health benefits. For instance, the grapefruit is a rich source of Vitamin A in the form of carotenoids and Vitamin C. It also consists of dietary fiber, Copper, Potassium, Biotin and Vitamin B1. Some of its health benefits include weight loss, better immunity, heart and eye health to name a few. Here are some reasons to include this food to improve eyesight in your diet:
Eye Health Benefits: Due to its Vitamin A content it supports better vision health. One medium grapefruit consists of about 60 micrograms of Vitamin A. This eye food also has a variety of other vision health nutrients such as Beta-carotene which improves poor eyesight. It also includes lycopene which research suggests helps to reduce the risks for some age related vision disorders like macular degeneration and cataracts. Additionally, it also consists of Lutein and Zeaxanthin; 2 major eye health promoting nutrients that support the health of the macular (the part of the eye that supports sharp eyesight and good central vision).
Reduces The Development Of Kidney Stones: A study conducted by The British Journal Of Nutrition revealed that women who drink about one half to about a liter a day of various juices including grapefruit Juice, Orange Juice and Apple Juice were shown to reduce their risks for developing kidney stones. Research suggests that the health properties associated with grapefruit and other citrus juices increases the urinary P.H levels in the body. This assists in speeding up the extraction of citric acid from the system. This prevents the formation of calcium oxalate stones that can lead to kidney stone problems.
Better Heart Health: This food for better vision, according to research studies, reduces the bad levels of cholesterol due to its soluble pectin fiber content. This nutrient property also reduces triglyceride levels in the blood. These nutritional factors work together collectively to slow the formation of unhealthy fat deposits in the arteries that can lead to atherosclerosis and other forms of heart disease.
Cancer Prevention: This vision food consists of an important photochemical called Limonoids. This is a phytochemical substance that discourages the harmful activity of genes in the body that promote cancer. According to a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry Limonoids activate healthy genes in the body that are responsible for neutralizing cancer cells.
Boosts Immunity: This eye food includes Vitamin C which boosts the body’s immune system and even about half of a grapefruit provides the body with about 78% of your daily recommended allowance for this nutrient. This nutrient fights the symptoms associated with the common cold. Additionally, it has antihistamine properties that give it the ability to reduce allergies as it reduces histamine levels in the body.
Promotes Weight Loss: This eye food possesses high water content, low sodium levels, and fiber rich properties that promote a full feeling that helps you to curb your appetite so that you feel less hungry after eating it. All of these properties collectively promote weight loss.
While the grapefruit may not necessarily be your favorite food in terms of taste preference, even though it tastes slightly bitter and tart, it includes a tinge of sweetness and a juicy flavor to boot that makes it an acquired taste. Nevertheless, its health promoting properties which include better weight loss, eye, heart, and immune health, make it an eye food that should be an integral part of your diet for better vision and general health.