Healthy eating can reduce not only health care costs, but also the deterioration of the quality of your eyesight for years to come. A 2009 study published in Ophthalmology has revealed that a combination of a low glycemic index diet with nutrients like zinc and lutein can protect your eyes against age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Millions of Americans experience some extent of vision loss that compromises their quality of life. With sight-robbing diseases like AMD being more common than ever before, it is good to learn how to protect our eyes to ensure that they will carry us into old age without even the need to wear glasses or use contact lenses.

How to protect your eyesight naturally

Even you can have a profound influence on the state of your eyesight. Here are a few simple, yet powerful tips worth trying if you want to keep robust vision for years to come:

• Antioxidants - Researchers have linked eye friendly antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E and pro-vitamin A (beta-carotene) to reducing the risk of a number of eye diseases such as cataract formation and macular degeneration. Lutein is a particularly potent natural antioxidant capable of protecting the eye against free radical damage. The best sources of these powerful nutrients seem to be green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and kale.

• Minerals - Adding certain key minerals to your diet - either through foods or supplements - will help the body absorb the aforementioned antioxidants. It seems reasonable to assume that minerals such as zinc and selenium can strengthen the eye defenses and help save your sight.

• Sugar - avoid foods that spike blood sugar levels too quickly. The study published in Ophthalmology suggests that there is a direct correlation between eyesight and sugar. It is best to avoid things like soft drinks, sweets and processed foods containing added sugar.

Give these changes a try and reduce your chances of developing advanced age-related vision loss. There's no substitute for the quality of life good vision offers. Embarking on a healthy diet plan and adding certain antioxidants to your diet can significantly improve your eye health. It's not a miracle - simply nutrition.