It is no secret that these delicious crunchy snacks have been linked to heart health and diets of all kinds.  Despite being a tasty topping to your food or healthy substitute for chips while watching your favorite TV-shows, nuts and seeds are packed with Vitamin E and antioxidants. Not only will your heart, immune system and waistline thank you for consuming nuts, but so will your eyes.

Studies have shown that long-term use of Vitamin E have been linked to slowing down the progression of cataracts. The FDA recommends that you get 22 IU of Vitamin E daily, often found in cereal (wheat germ), almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts and peanuts.

However, the nutritional benefits of nuts don’t stop there.  The Coimbra Eye Study found that Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) was 35% lower in subjects who adhered to a Mediterranean diet that are rich in nuts.  The antioxidants in nuts and seeds help protect against unstable molecules, called free radicals, that lead to oxidative stress of cells, hence the name “anti”-oxidants. Makes perfect sense!

So now that you know the ocular benefits of nuts you can trade your chips for almonds and sprinkle some extra sunflower seeds on your salads, go nuts! For more information: http://www.aoa.org/news/inside-optometry/nutty-nutrition-and-eye-health