Thumbnail image by Wokandapix from Pixabay
By Rebecca Fending
Behold, the month that truly starts showing the ferocity of summer heat: July. And while it’s also Healthy Vision Month, for most, this month includes a plethora of family and friend gatherings, as well as many trips to the beach or the closest pool. If you haven’t made best friends with your neighbors who have a pool, now is definitely the time!
Aside from the oppressive humidity and screaming sun, July also means that summer is well underway. That may mean that some of us are simply trying to survive and keep our daily shower count to two, and for others, you may be planning your fall garden. It also means that we may have figured out our updated aftercare routine for a day in the sun. Who knew how well an aloe vera leaf could fix up a pair of burned shoulders?
Below are just a few ways that you can celebrate and honor the National Eye Institute’s Healthy Vision Month:
Eat For Your Eyes
We all know that certain foods can act as preventative maintenance when it comes to certain medical conditions and health. However, below is a list of foods great for eye health, many of them being fruits and veggies high in beta-carotene and vitamin A, both crucial for your eyes:
- Vegetables: Carrots, spinach, squashes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, romaine lettuce
- Fruits: Cantaloupe, tomatoes, apricots, grapefruit, oranges, peaches, mangoes
Know Your Family History
Unlike the above preventative care options, it’s important to know what to expect from your lineage. For some people, 20/20 vision runs in the family, but cataracts tend to develop later in life. For others, glasses are needed starting at tiny tot age without a history of degenerative ocular conditions. Many health conditions tend to be genetic, so it’s best if you know what to look out for by reviewing the family history, starting with your parents and grandparents.
Throw on Some Shades to Protect Your Vision
Unlike ZZ Top, don’t choose a pair of Cheap Sunglasses. Be sure to invest in a pair that fits you best and blocks 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation. Sunglasses able to block that much of the harmful rays from the sun help preserve the delicate proteins in your eyes, warding off cataracts and degeneration of your vision.
No matter how you plan on celebrating this month, be sure to do so with your eye health in mind and a cold drink in hand. Maybe, too, near a body of water.
Take care, and we’ll see you in August!
