Vitamin C For A Better See

Aside from improving resistance against diseases and cell repair, studies show Vitamin C is also an important nutrient for our eyes.

As one of the most popular vitamins, Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the most studied nutrients. While usually associated with improving resistance to infections such as cold and flu as well as preventing scurvy, there are more and more studies showing the increasing benefits of this vitamin.

Many scholars were fascinated by Vitamin C to a point that they elevated it to a super-vitamin status. Nobel laureate in Chemistry, Linus Pauling, even promoted taking large doses of ascorbic acid to prevent and treat heart ailments and cancer. Although many doctors are currently debating on whether Pauling's megavitamin therapy of Vitamin C is a quackery or a key ingredient to “overcome the major killers in the industrialised world”, still all of them advise a daily intake of ascorbic acid in right dosages for better health.

One of the understated benefits of Vitamin C is its contribution to the health of our eyes. Aside from Vitamin A, studies show that an adequate daily dosage of ascorbic acid can also improve our eyesight. In fact, the American Optometric Association (AOA) website stated the many benefits of vitamin C to our organs for seeing. 

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1. Reduces the possibility of visual impairment

The body needs vitamin C for repairing and nourishing our cells, including those of the eyes. Likewise, ascorbic acid supports the health of blood vessels in our eyes that supplies essential nutrients for better vision.

2. Lowers the risk of developing cataracts.

A study showed that women who take in Vitamin C for ten years or more experienced reduced their risk of developing nuclear cataracts by 64 percent. Another research found out that women who use 364 mg of vitamin C daily lowered their risk of certain types of cataracts by 57 percent.

3. Slows down the progress of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

In the West, AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people of 55 years and older. Experts believe AMD cases will triple by 2025. A daily 500-mg intake of Vitamin C, together with beta-carotene, vitamin E, and zinc, slows the advancement of AMD by about 25 percent, according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). The study also revealed that Vitamin C also delays visual acuity loss by 19 percent.

Taking care of your eyes will enable you to "see a brighter future." We need an ample dose of Vitamin C for this. Sadly, with the worsening pollution and the dominance of unhealthy food in our diet, we need more Vitamin C from our diet. Fortunately, there are available quality supplements for better visual health.