9 Proven foods for eye health

November 25, 2021December 5, 2022 | Divya shukla

The Eye is the lamp of the body, so if the eye is healthy your whole body will be full of light. From reading to writing, from classroom to playground, a child’s eyes are constantly at work. With the ongoing pandemic, kids are not able to attend school and they are sitting at home without friends, screen came to their complete rescue. With a sharp drop in physical movement (outdoor activities), and increased screen time due to online classes and pleasure viewing, leads to many health-related concerns especially affecting eyesight. By feeding foods for the eye you can protect their eyes. Bad eyesight is most commonly caused by a refractive error like nearsightedness (myopia), foresightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Below are some reasons for weak eyesight in kids: (what are some common eye disorders in kids?)

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Reasons of weak eyesight

Genetics: Kids with a family history of poor eyesight are at higher risk of weaker eyesight than those who don’t have any family history of eye issues.

Lack of nutrients: Eating habits should be taken care of from an early age, as eating low nutrient food can lead to many health issues and weak eyesight is one of them.

Screen time: limitless screen time is adversely affecting the overall health including the eyes of kids especially those under the age of 3 years, as their development is happening rapidly.

Sunlight: Just like UV rays affect our skin, it too affects our eyes. Photo keratitis is a type of sunburn on the surface of the eye.

Symptoms to be taken seriously:

Child is constantly rubbing his/her eyes
Poor focusing
Abnormal movement of eyes (after 6 months of age)
Redness of the eyes
Tearing of eyes
Tilting head and covering one eye
Sitting too close to television or keeping book too close while reading
Complaining of headaches or eye pain

How beta carotene help with eye health?

Beta carotene is the primary source of vitamin A in the human diet. It is a provitamin A carotenoid or you can say nutrients that the body converts into vitamin A. Orange-colored fruits and vegetables like carrots, mangoes, apricot, and sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene which helps your eyes to adjust them in darkness and improves night vision. It helps to strengthen eye muscles, thus is key for eye care and necessary to protect your kid from any children’s eye disease.

Foods for eye that can help in strong vision

Foods play a very important role in developing and promoting children’s eye health. These foods not only help in strong vision but also improve weak eyesight to a great extent.

1.Moringa

Moringa contains beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C and vitamin E. These nutrients can preserve eyesight and also reduce the risk of eye diseases. Moringa powder is the richest common food in lutein and zeaxanthin. There isn’t a recommended daily intake for beta-carotene. Scientific data shows that about 3-6 mg of beta-carotene per day is good. Scientists found the amount of beta-carotene in Moringa powder to be about 28.5 mg per 100g.

Also chech, Which other foods are good for eye health?

2.Carrot

Carrots are a great source of beta carotene which can be converted into vitamin A. Vitamin A promotes better eyesight. It is also rich in lutein, an antioxidant which can help in preventing eye damage caused by free radicals.

3.Sprouted moong

This is high in nutrients and is believed to aid many ailments. Sprouted moong is stuffed with vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant and helps to maintain the flexibility of the retina. sprouting reduces levels of phytic acid, which is an antinutrient. Antinutrients can reduce the absorption of minerals like zinc, magnesium and calcium

4. Spinach

Spinach contains a high volume of antioxidant lutein and zeaxanthin stored in the macula. Macula is the part of the retina that naturally protects the eye from ultraviolet rays. These nutrients also help the eye to detect contrast better. So this not only improves vision, but also maintains vision for the long term.

5.Spirulina

Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage. It contains nutrients, including B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid). Spirulina also contains high concentration of zeaxanthin, an important nutrient important for eye health. It helps in maintaining good eyesight as well as prevents night blindness.

6.Broccoli

Broccoli is packed with antioxidants and carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin. Both of them act as protective pigments in the back of the eyes. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant nutrient that’s involved in both creating and protecting the structure of your eyes.

7.Flax seeds

Flax seeds are very high in fiber and provide good amounts of protein. It is also rich source of omega 3 fatty acid which is essential for strengthening eye nerves.

8.Giloy

It is a shrub and an essential herb in ayurvedic medicines. Giloy is used to treat a wide range of health conditions. Giloy also contains lutein that is good for eyesight. It helps to boost vision clarity.

9.Greens:

Wheat grass: high in vitamins A, C and E, as well as iron, magnesium, calcium and amino acids. All of these support eye health.

Barley Grass: barley grass contains a good amount of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that regulates immune function, cell growth, and vision.

Alfalfa Grass: It contains B-Vitamins, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C for vision and teeth. Also rich in Vitamin D which is extremely crucial for bone health.

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How to Improve weak Eyesight in Children?

July 6, 2021January 28, 2023 | Rupali

Eye is the busiest organ as it starts working from the moment you wake up till the moment you close your eyes. Eyes are not only used for seeing but children absorb the world around them through their eyes. Any information that your brain receives is initially processed through your vision. A child’s progress in academics and sports depend widely upon their visual abilities. So it is important to take all required precautionary measures for eye health. You have to know that which food will improve eyesight so that you can add it in kids diet from very beginning.

From reading to writing, from classroom to playground, a child’s eyes are constantly at work. With the ongoing pandemic, kids are not able to attend school and they are sitting at home without friends, screen came to their complete rescue. With a sharp drop in physical movement (outdoor activities), and increased screen time due to online classes and pleasure viewing, leads to many health related concerns especially affecting eyesight. Bad eyesight is most commonly caused by a refractive error like nearsightedness (myopia), foresightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Below are some reasons for weak eyesight in kids:

Also check, What are some common eye disorder in kids?

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Reasons for weak Eyesight in kids;

1.Too much screen time:

Basically screen time is the time your kids spend watching TV and using computers, tablets, and smartphones. However these digital devices can provide endless educational contents and unlimited hours of entertainment, limitless screen time is adversely affecting the eyesight of kids. With the ongoing pandemic, this has become more serious, both kids and adults are spending more and more time using screens for everything from office to school, from entertainment to socializing.

Also check, How to reduce kid’s screen time?

2. Genetics:

Your genetics can be the reason for your poor eyesight. Kids with a family history of poor eyesight are at higher risk of weaker eyesight than those who don’t have any family history of eye issues.

3. Poor diet:

Eating habits should be taken care of from an early age, as eating low nutrient food can lead to many health issues and weak eyesight is one of them. Take care of your kid’s diet and include some foods that are good for eyes from their early age to avoid weak eyesight.

4. Sunlight:

Just like UV rays affect our skin, it too affects our eyes. Photo keratitis is a type of sunburn on the surface of the eye. So don’t allow your kids to play for long hours under the sun or ask them to wear sunglasses.

5. Lack of sleep:

Sleep affects the overall growth of the child. A decent night’s sleep can make a positive impact on your child’s entire day. If there has been continuous lack of sleep it may cause eye fatigue and strain. Your eyes also get continuous lubrication when you get enough sleep.

Also check, How to improve your child’s sleep cycle?

6. Studying in dim light:

If your child used to study in dim light, it may have the same effect as using a screen for a long time. Eyes have to work harder to focus in dim light and continuously studying and working in dim light leads to weaker eyes. So please take care of the lighting in your kid’s study room.

7. Rubbing eyes:

Rubbing your eyes can break the fragile vessels around the eyes. It may give you a moment of relief but the after effects are really bad. So next time when you feel something in your eyes instead of rubbing, wash it with water or try to blink your eyes rapidly so that tears wash it away.

It is very important to take proper care of your kid’s eyes, especially those under the age of 3 years, as their development is happening rapidly. Following are some tips which can be used to improve eyesight.

Tips to improve weak eyesight:

Reduce the screen

Reducing the screen time of your kids is the first step. No screen time before 2 years and after that, 2 hours of screen time, that too for watching educational contents only.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the key for better vision. Since birth, take care of your child’s diet. For this you have to know that which food will improve eyesight of your kids. Make sure you include a lot of Vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc and omega 3, as they all support eye health.

Lighting

Take care of proper lighting in your kids study area so that there is less strain on their eyes.

Frequent breaks

If your kid’s eyesight is weak, ask your kid to take frequent breaks between studying, readings or while using any sort of screen.

Hydration

Encourage your child to drink a lot of water and wash their eyes with clean water regularly to avoid any infection. (How to keep your child hydrated?)

Regular eye checkup

Get your kid’s eyes checkup in regular interval , this will help you to trace out any problem related to their eyesigh

Exercise

Along with outdoor exercise which helps to develop muscles responsible for far vision, also engage your child in some indoor eye exercise like make your child focus on pencil tip or asking them to shift their vision from pencil tip to look at a particular number on the calendar repeat this eye shifting exercise for at least 10 times. Next you can ask them to focus on something that is 20 feet away, for say 20 seconds every day. Moving eyes clockwise and anticlockwise also strengthens eye muscles.

If your child continuously complains of headaches or eye pain, constantly rubbing his/her eyes, Redness or tears in the eyes and difficulty in focusing, you must consult an eye specialist. Also add these nutrients and foods from an early age in your kid’s diet to avoid any such situation. These foods also help to improve weak eyesight to a great extent.

Which food will improve eyesight?

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A plays a crucial role in vision by maintaining a clear cornea, which is the outer covering of your eye. Rhodopsin, a protein present in eyes that helps to see in low light is component of vitamin A. Orange- colored fruits and vegetables like carrots, mangoes, apricot, and sweet potatoes are high in bête-carotene, a form of vitamin A that helps your eyes to adjust them in darkness and improves night vision. It is key to protect your kid from any children’s eye disease.

Also check, How to cook vitamin A food to retain nutrition?

Vitamin C:

It is a powerful antioxidant that protects eyes against damaging free radicals. It produces collagen which is important for eyes. Connective tissues in eyes are maintained by collagen. It holds them together and protects them, which helps in preventing any kind of eye disorders in children. Citrus fruits like oranges, guava, lemon and vegetables like tomatoes are the major contributors of vitamin C. Broccoli, sprouts, and capsicum are some other rich natural sources of vitamin C.

Also check,Easiest food source of meeting 100% Vitamin C requirement

Vitamin E:

Vitamin E is an antioxidant which protects certain parts of the eye. It has been known to lower the risk of developing macular degeneration and cataract, two age-related conditions. Including almonds, pistachio and walnuts in the child’s diet can preserve his/her eyesight. Studies also show that eating nuts daily is an effective home remedy to control myopia (a condition in which far objects don’t appear clear).

Also check, Some easy food sources of vitamin E

Zinc:

Eye contains high level of zinc. It is also involved in the formation of visual pigments in the retina. Zinc deficiency can result in night blindness. Chickpeas, beans, nuts are some food sources of zinc.

Also check,How does zinc help in treating mouth ulcers?

Omega 3:

There are many clinical studies, that omega 3 fatty acids are essential for infant vision development. DHA and other omega 3 fatty acids are found in mother’s milk and also present in some formula milks to support eye development in infants. These essential fatty acids also help to protect an adult’s eye from macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome. Fish, nuts, seeds like chia seeds and flax seeds are rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids.

Also check,Importance of omega 3 for kids

Antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin:

It helps to protect eyes from harmful bright light waves like ultraviolet rays in sunlight by absorbing excess light. Studies suggest that high levels of both in eye tissue can give better vision in dim light. These work to protect eyes from free radicals. Natural food sources of these two are green or yellow vegetables like spinach, carrot. Non vegetarian sources include egg yolks.

Also check, Why antioxidants are necessary?

Herbs:

Herbs like triphala and ginkgo biloba promote better eyesight. Triphala is an ayurvedic formulation made from amla, haritaki and bibhitaki. It is very efficient in treating many eye disorders and improving eyesight. Ginkgo biloba is a strong antioxidant with many benefits, it improves the blood circulation around the eyes and is used in improving conditions for live glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Also check, Importance of herbs

Recipe: Carrot and Broccoli Pasta Sauce with hidden herbs and nuts

Let’s make every dish tasty and nutritious by ‘hidden’ nutrition of veggies, herbs and nuts.

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Children Screen Time: Major Concern for Eye Health

June 24, 2021December 5, 2022 | Rupali

Since the invention of smartphones, every parent’s main concern is their kids’ increased screen time and worried for eye health of their kids as today’s generation is growing up with a variety of electronic devices at their fingertips. Basically screen time is the time your kids spends watching TV and using computer, tablets, and smartphones. However these digital devices can provide endless educational contents and unlimited hours of entertainment, limitless screen time is adversely affecting the overall health of kids specially those under the age of 3 years, as their development is happening rapidly.

With the ongoing pandemic, this became more serious, both kids and adult are spending more and more time using screen for everything from office to school, from entertainment to socializing. There is no hard and fast guidelines for how much screen time kids can have, but according to the American Academy of pediatrics advice kids below 18 months should not be allowed for any screen time and after 18 months kids should be allowed only one hour and teens not more than 2 hours of screen time, that too for watching educational contents. In today’s scenario it becomes more important take precautionary measures for eye health as screen time has increased beyond limits.

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Effects of increased screen time in kids:

Effects on brain:

According to the data from National Institute of Health (NIH) indicates that kids who spent more than 2 hours a day on screen scored lower on language and thinking tests, and some children with more than seven hours of screen time experienced thinning of the brain’s cortex (the area of brain related to critical thinking and reasoning). Excessive screen time may reduce the child’s ability to observe and concentrate. There are also some evidence that kids who watch a lot of TV or smartphone during early years perform less well in school on reading tests and may show a deficit in attention.

Also check, What are some foods helps in brain development?

Effects on eyes:

the first organ which is directly affected by the excessive screen time is your baby’s eyes. Too much screen time can lead to digital eye strain, which can include burning, itching and tired eyes along with headache, fatigue and double vision, loss of focus. Because of continued screen time, the muscles around the eye get tired and hamper their vision. In early years excessive use of screens can have potential harm to their visual development.

Also check, What are the common eye issues in kids?

Chances of obesity:

Many studies have found that increased screen time is directly related to obesity, children who spend more time watching and playing with screens are more prone to obesity than children who spend less time with screen media.

Also check, How to deal with Obesity in kids?

Effects on sleep:

The widespread use of portable electronic devices and other screen media in the bedroom includes a high risk of insufficient sleep, affecting a majority of adolescents and 30% of toddlers, preschool and school age kids. The light emitted from the screen interferes the sleep cycle in the brain and may lead to insomnia. Limited screen time and avoiding mobile phones by kids at least an hour before bed time for a better sleep.

Also check, What are some foods help in sound sleep?

Hamper family time:

Increased screen time of kids and adults is hampering family life these days. The more time kids spend watching TV or computer, the more likely they find it difficult forming a relationship or emotional bond with their parents.

While screen time may keep your kids busy and provide a lot of educational content, excess use is creating many health issues in kids. Now it is high time to reduce their screen time to create a healthy lifestyle for children. Have a conversation with your kids explaining to them about the danger of unlimited screen time and online predators. Here are some tips for parents on how to reduce the use of screen by their kids:

Tips to reduce screen time:

Set an example

Before asking your child to reduce their screen time, first you should reduce yours. Keep track of your screen time. Apart from work or online meetings avoid scrolling your social media now and then. What you do your kids will follow, so set a good example. Instead for using smartphones and laptops in your free time, read some books and make your children realize that books are equally entertaining.

Step by step

First check the total screen time of your child in a day. Then start to cut that time, day by day like half an hour every second day, as it is impossible to ask children to completely cut down all the electronic devices at a time, but if they reduce gradually soon they will use only for their recommended time.

Set a schedule

Your success depends upon your plans. Always plan the screen time with the concern of your kids and set the schedule. Like allowing screen time only after doing their homework or other studies and works. Make screen time a privilege rather than a right.

Stick to the rules

Whatever rules you have made, just stick to the rules. Always remember that you are the boss and you make the rules. There can be some conflicts initially but make them understand the importance of limiting screen time.

Screen free bedroom

Make your bedroom screen free. Using electronic devices just before sleep affects your sleep cycle, making it hard for you to fall asleep at night. And if kids do not have proper sleep at night they will wake up tired and don’t have energy to do activities during the day. Rather place the TV, computer, laptop and phones in some central location, and ask your child to use any device in that location only, so that you can better monitor the screen time of kids.

Encourage other activities

Encourage kids for other activities like reading, craft work, indoor games and doing puzzles. You can also engage them in some household works like helping you in gardening, cooking and cleaning, this will also strengthen your bond with your kids.

Outdoor activities

Outdoor playing and exercise is essential for overall well being of kids and a best way to keep them away from screen. Engage them in some sports like summing, badminton or any game of their interest.

Screen free zone

Establish a zone in your house where any type of screens are not allowed. Make some time for your family when the screen stays off like at meals and before bed time.

Foods to reduce effects

Along with reducing screen time of kids with these tips, you can also reduce the effects of screen time on kids by changing their eating habits and taking care of their diet, including some foods that help to protect their brain and eye from the adverse effects of electronic devices. Here is the list of some foods that support your kid’s brain and eye health.

Nut and seeds

All the nuts like almonds, walnuts, pista, cashew, brazil nuts, hazel nuts, and Pine nuts are rich in vitamin E and help in boosting memory. They are also antioxidants which protect against cell damage. Walnuts are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and are a valuable substance for brain function, memory and thinking abilities. This fatty acid also encourages cognitive functions. Apart from nuts, seeds like flex, chia, melon, sesame and pumpkins also contain powerful antioxidants like vitamin E that protect the brain from free radical damage. If you are looking for eye health concerning food, Nuts and seeds are best.

Also check, why to include nuts and seeds in kid’s diet daily?

Cocoa powder

Pure cocoa powder (unsweetened) contains brain boosting components as it is packed with a large number of antioxidants molecules, the main is epicatechin helpful to improve cognition in studies and also contributes for eye health.

Brahmi

This Ayurvedic herb is believed to sharpen the brain by protecting cells and increasing chemicals associated with learning and memory and hence it is a child brain development food. It has shown to improve spatial learning and retaining power. Brahmi is also very beneficial for eye health.

Also check, some more herbs helps in brain development

Vitamin A

Vitamin A plays a crucial role in vision by maintaining a clear cornea, which is the outer covering of your eye. Rhodopsin, a protein present in eyes that helps to see in low light is component of vitamin A. Orange- coloured fruits and vegetables like carrots, mangoes, apricot, sweet potatoes are high in bête-carotene, a form of vitamin A that helps your eyes to adjust them in darkness and improves night vision. It is key to protect your kid from any children’s eye disease. So it is best to include vitamin A rich foods in kids diet for eye health.

Also check, How to cook vitamin A food to retain nutrition?

Zinc

It is one of the most important mineral for eye health. Eye contains high levels of zinc. It is also involved in the formation of visual pigments in the retina. Zinc deficiency can result in night blindness. Chickpeas, beans, nuts are some food sources of zinc.

Also check, Zinc foods that help in treating mouth ulcers?

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A GUIDELINE TO CHILDREN’S EYE HEALTH

April 10, 2021December 21, 2022 | Rupali

Year 2020 (corona pandemic) has shown us many ups and downs. More or less we adjusted ourselves according to the situation and learned to survive. The worst hit emotionally and physically from this situation are the kids. From not being able to attend school to sitting at home without friends, screen came to their complete rescue. With a sharp drop in physical movement (outdoor activities), and increased screen time due to online classes and pleasure viewing, it has led to many health related concerns. One organ being way more stressed than others is the Eye. Just like any other part of the body, eyes also need ample rest and care. Rather than giving supplements to kids, it is better to look for eye health food and include it in their diet from very beginning to prevent eye diseases in the future.

Eyes continue to grow and develop as a child ages and the eye muscles become stronger. For most of the children, as they grow, they have good eyesight and do not need to wear glasses. However, if a child develops any eye diseases or eye disorders and it is not diagnosed at an early age, it may lead to reduced vision in one or both eyes. First of all we need to understand the common eye disorders.

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Common Eye Disorders in Children:

Amblyopia (lazy eyes):

It is a kind of poor vision that happens in one eye. It develops when there is a breakdown in how the brain and eye work together. Common cause of this condition is an imbalance in the muscles. It prevents both eyes from working together. Over a period of time the brain relies on the stronger eye and vision in the weaker eye gets worse.

Strabismus (crossed eyes):

It is a condition in which both eyes do not line up in the same direction. The eyes are unable to look at the same place at the same time. It causes when the brain receives different visual messages from each eye and ignores signals coming from weaker one. It is one of the most common eye disorders in children, affecting 4% of kids under the age of six year.

Chalazion (sty):

Stye is a small, red lump that occurs at the base of the eyelash of your kid, usually on the lower lid. It can cause swelling around the eyelid and can be quite painful. Children can have many styes on their eyelid at one time and can happen in both eyes. This is one of the eye diseases in children caused by an infection of oil glands in the eyelid.

Conjunctivitis:

It is commonly known as “pink eyes”. Conjunctivitis is an infection in the outer membrane of your eyeball. It can be caused by allergies or a bacterial or viral infection. It is extremely contagious and can spread by coming in contact with an infected person.

Dry eyes:

Some factors that can cause dry eyes in kids are dry weather, smoke, or pollution. Allergies or contact lenses are also responsible for irritation and dryness in eyes. It can affect kids to perform well in school. Burning, itching, constantly blinking are some of the symptoms.

Symptoms of eye diseases in CHILDREN

Child is constantly rubbing his/her eyes
Poor focusing
Abnormal movement of eyes (after 6 months of age)
Redness of the eyes
Tearing of eyes
Tilting head and covering one eye
Sitting too close to television or keeping book too close while reading
Complaining of headaches or eye pain

Essential nutrients & vitamins for children’s eye:

Vitamins play a very important role in developing and promoting children’s eye health. Though a large number of kids eyesight products are available in the market, the best way to provide the essential vitamins for children’s eyes is by giving them nutritious food which will support their eye health in the years to come. However, if your child suffers from any of the eye concerns mentioned above, check with your doctor if any additional supplements or kids eyesight products like eye drops or capsules are required. Let’s understand which vitamin is good for the eyes.

FOODS FOR EYE HEALTH:

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A plays a crucial role in vision by maintaining a clear cornea, which is the outer covering of your eye. Rhodopsin, a protein present in eyes that helps to see in low light is component of vitamin A. Orange- coloured fruits and vegetables like carrots, mangoes, apricot, sweet potatoes are high in bête-carotene, a form of vitamin A that helps your eyes to adjust them in darkness and improves night vision. It is key to protect your kid from any children’s eye diseases and a good choice for eye health food.

Also check, How to cook vitamin A food to retain nutrition?

B vitamins:

A 2009 study suggests that daily supplementation of vitamins B6, B9, B12 may help to reduce risk of AMD (degenerative eye disease that affects the vision). Vitamin B6 comes in protein rich foods like beans, potatoes, spinach, and enriched cereal grains. Dark green leafy vegetables, sprouts, broccoli, fresh fruits, peanuts are some sources of vitamin B9. Milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, fish are high in vitamin B12 and also considered good for eye health food.

Also check, More B vitamin foods

Vitamin C:

It is a powerful antioxidant that protects eyes against damaging free radicals. It produces collagen which is important for eyes. Connective tissues in eyes are maintained by collagen. It holds them together and protects them, which helps in preventing any kind of eye disorders in children. Citrus fruits like oranges, guava, lemon and vegetables like tomatoes are the major contributors of vitamin C. Broccoli, sprouts, and capsicum are some other rich natural sources of vitamin C.

Also check,Easiest food source of meeting 100% Vitamin C requirement

Vitamin E:

Vitamin E is an antioxidant which protects certain parts of the eye. It has been known to lower the risk of developing macular degeneration and cataract, two age-related conditions. Including almonds, pistachio and walnuts in the child’s diet can preserve his/her eyesight. Studies also show that eating nuts daily is an effective home remedy to control myopia (a condition in which far objects don’t appear clear) and thus one of the best choice for eye health food.

Also check,Some easy food sources of vitamin E

Zinc:

Eye contains high level of zinc. It is also involved in the formation of visual pigments in the retina. Zinc deficiency can result in night blindness. Chick peas, beans, nuts are some food sources of zinc.

Also check,How does zinc help in treating mouth ulcers?

Antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin:

It helps to protect eyes from harmful bright light waves like ultraviolet rays in sunlight by absorbing excess light. Studies suggest that high levels of both in eye tissue can give better vision in dim light. These work to protect eyes from free radicals (What are they?). Natural food sources of these two are green or yellow vegetables like spinach, carrot. Non vegetarian sources include egg yolks.

Also check, Which nut has these antioxidants?

Herbs

Also check, Importance of herbs

Product:

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The Importance of Vitamins for Kids: Do Healthy Kids Need Supplements?

February 2, 2021December 21, 2022 | Vandita

The importance of vitamins for kids are many, they help the body grow and work the way it should. There are 13 essential Vitamins — Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and Vitamin Bs. Some help in eyesight and energy production, while others support healthy nerves and cells and in fighting infection. This article will help you understand the importance of vitamins and when to take supplements.

the importance of vitamins

Vitamins are found in the food we eat and some like D, K can also be partially produced by our body. A balanced meal full of a variety of grains, nuts, vegetables and fruits will meet the daily requirements of vitamins for kids. Nature has packed food in such a way that the nutrition received is well-balanced with complementary nutrients.

For example, Nuts have a variety of Vitamin Bs and E. However, for the vitamins to be absorbed efficiently by the body, they have to be consumed with fiber. So consuming the vitamin naturally in the form of nut itself (vs. a pill) is not only easy but also essential for its maximum absorption by the body. Secondly, consuming vitamins through nut (or any food) fairly reduce the chance of overconsumption of any vitamins. Excessive consumption of any vitamin can have adverse effects on the body organs. Lastly, consuming the nut (or any food) not only gives us Vitamin Bs and E but a lot more added goodness in the form of fibre and phytonutrients. So in nutshell, it’s always more beneficial to consume all the required vitamins through food directly.

When to take supplements?

While it is usually preferred to get the nutrients a child needs from food rather than a pill, syrup or gummy, it is not always possible. That’s because some kids are picky eaters and their intake of food is limited to a chosen few. Or despite consuming healthy complete meals, a child may have a severe deficiency of a particular vitamin due to a prevalent health concern. This may result in a deficiency of any key vitamin in their body.

The next best solution in such a situation is to consume supplements made of real food and fortified with the necessary vitamin. For example, some cereals are fortified with vitamin B12 as its found deficient in many vegetarian kids. Oils can be fortified with Vitamin D for kids who are off dairy. For kids who severely lack intake of veggies or fruits and hence have lagged development can support vitamin A intake through fortified oils too.

Most commonly we hear parents say that their child is active and looking healthy too so there is nothing to worry about nutrition. The most obvious response in defence to further questioning is ‘we also turned out fine without our parents worrying so much about nutrition when we were young’. Let’s understand this assumption closely.

Then and now

Young and active cells: Kids have new and active cells which perform all the necessary tasks they are assigned. For example, hair cells have to maintain thick growth and pigment. They do their job well. Having said that, how soon will they start to show decay in quality depends on how well we are taking care of those cells. We need to protect our cells from free radical damage by feeding them the right nutrition they need for them to work many more years in their most active state. Or else we can see outcomes such as early hair loss or greying.
Less contaminated food: Compared to today’s times, food was far less contaminated earlier. The consumption was primarily local, fresh and seasonal without any unnecessary pesticides. This also kept the prices low and consumption up, adding to the daily nutrition.

Occasional consumption of processed food:

Children nowadays have access to far more processed food than their parents. These are not only packed months ago, but also high in sugar and sodium, both of which can work in damaging our body cells. At least two meals in a day (today) have some form of processed food on the dining table.
Real test is yet to come: When parents say that ‘they have turned out fine’- it is only partly relevant. The real test will come when we see the bones, muscles, other organs performing their best and original function in the old age. Weakening of bones in early thirties is a sign of mistreating our body with the wrong choice of food (and lifestyle etc). Early mensuration, reduced vision, high blood sugar are some other examples which are now happening early in life. Imagine sowing a mango seed. How many fruits will the tree bear will depend on the kind of soil, sunlight, manure and water that is supplied to the seed. However, the result will only show many many years later. Similarly, what we feed out body today will only show many year later. The early years are most important as they lay the foundation of our bones and brain.

I hope you have understood the importance of vitamins for kids and their part in our everyday lives. To ensure that your child gets adequate nutrients, try to provide them with a well-balanced diet. Include a wide variety of foods while avoiding sugar and processed foods.

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Check the Recipe made with Iyurved’s secret health ingredient- DAILY NUTRITION spread.

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We are happy to introduce our range of nutritious & tasty products for kids!!

We know that preparing and feeding healthy foods everyday is a huge task. Even more tough when kids are picky eaters. Kids prefer certain foods and formats. It is not easy to feed kids bitter Ayurvedic herbs, variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds everyday.
Mixed with Ayurvedic herbs, this unique Ayurvedic chocolate spread is an easy solution to feed daily nutrition for Immunity, Brain development, Bone strength and overall-growth to kids without any fuss.

Let’s try to make every food a child wants to eat more tasty and nutritious with (hidden) veggies, herbs and nuts.

Kids & Teens Daily Nutrition Savoury Spread

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Foods and Remedies by a Nutrition Expert

Daily requirement of vitamins for Kids: Do they need them and which one?

January 25, 2021September 12, 2021 | Vandita

Vitamins help the body grow and work the way it should. There are 13 essential Vitamins — Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and Vitamin Bs. Some help in eyesight and energy production. While others support healthy nerves and cells and in fighting infections. The food that kids eat should meet their daily requirement of vitamins.

Daily requirement of vitamins

Vitamins are found in the food we eat. Some like D, K can also be partially produced by our body. A balanced meal full of a variety of grains, nuts, vegetables and fruits will meet the daily requirement of vitamins for kids. Nature has packed food in such a way that the nutrition received is well-balanced with complementary nutrients

For example, Nuts have a variety of Vitamin Bs and E. However, for the vitamins to be absorbed efficiently by the body, they have to be consumed with fiber. So consuming the vitamin naturally in the form of the nut itself (vs. a pill) is not only easy but also essential for its maximum absorption by the body. Secondly, consuming vitamins through nuts fairly reduces the chance of over consumption of any vitamins vs. popping pills in the mouth (excessive consumption of any vitamin can have adverse effects on the body organs). Lastly, consuming the nut not only gives us Vitamin Bs and E but a lot more added goodness in the form of fibre and phytonutrients.

While it is usually preferred to get the nutrients a child needs from food rather than a pill, syrup or gummy, it is not always possible. That’s because some kids are picky eaters and their intake of food is limited to a chosen few. This results in a deficiency of some key vitamins (mentioned below) in their body. The solution here is to introduce multivitamins which are made of real food (like nuts, beans, veggies, fruits), in kids most loved formats (e.g. chocolate spread or crisps) and tasty to consume directly or easy to hide in meals.

Vitamin A:

It is one of the essential vitamins for kids eyesight, immunity and reproduction of tissues (of skin). The body cannot manufacture this and it needs to be included in the diet and consumed with fat (oil) since it is a fat soluble vitamin. Lightly sautéing carrot in oil becomes a great food supplement for children to meet vitamin A nutrition. This vitamin is heat sensitive so has to be cooked lightly.

Vitamin Bs:

These vitamins are required to release energy from food, providing fuel to perform daily activities and supporting brain function. As children grow older, their requirements for this group of vitamins increase to help them cope with more energetic lifestyles. Inadequate intake of Vitamin Bs can lead to anaemia (low haemoglobin production), which may result in tiredness and lethargy. Food sources of Vitamin B like milk, nuts, greens etc should be stored away from direct light, since light can reduce the level of vitamin in the food. It is a best food supplement for children and adults as well to get strong hairs and healthy scalp.

Vitamin C:

Our body does not produce vitamin C and hence it becomes necessary to consume it through foods.Kids should consume a sufficient amount of Vitamin C during growing years to support development of bones and teeth. Vitamin C helps heal the wound as it repairs body tissues. It also helps in absorption of iron in the body. Guava, oranges, papaya, kiwifruit, tomatoes are some food supplements for children to meet daily requirements of this vitamin. (Easiest Vitamin C for kids)

vitamin D:

Every single cell in the body requires this Vitamin. Body can also produce this through cholesterol exposure to sunlight. However, deficiency of Vitamin D is common in kids and results in weaker bones and muscles, fatigue, depression, body pain, and extreme hair loss (alopecia). Vitamin D too has to be consumed with fat (oil). For e.g. Cheese has vitamin D and fat both, so it’s a great food supplement for children to meet this nutrition.

Vitamin E:

It is an important vitamin that also acts as a powerful antioxidant, which helps to protect the body against damage caused by free radicals (pollution, lifestyle, stress, processed food).Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin which can be stored in the body. It is rarely found deficient in kids who eat nuts, seeds and greens. This vitamin is vital in protecting against any infections and damage to eyes, skin, brain and enables regeneration of cells to keep organs healthy and active.

Vitamin K:

It is an important vitamin that promotes healthy bones and supports proper blood clotting (thereby preventing excessive bleeding). Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be stored in the body. This vitamin’s food supplement for children is found in greens, veggies, nuts, seeds, dry fruits. Vitamin K is also produced by the body through good bacteria found in the gut. Any deficiency in this can reflect in excessive bleeding during periods, bruising, oozing from teeth or gums.

Product

We are happy to introduce our range of nutritious & tasty products for kids!!

We know that preparing and feeding healthy foods everyday is a huge task. Even more tough when kids are picky eaters. Kids prefer certain foods and formats. It is not easy to feed kids bitter Ayurvedic herbs, variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds everyday.
Mixed with Ayurvedic herbs, this unique product is an easy solution to feed daily nutrition for Immunity, Brain development, Bone strength and overall-growth to kids without any fuss.

Let’s try to make every food a child wants to eat more tasty and nutritious with (hidden) veggies, herbs and nuts.

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

Check more products for: Immunity, Brain development, Weight, Eyesight, Sleep (hyperactivity), Hormone (acne) and Overall growth.

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Foods and Remedies recommended by a Nutrition expert.

Reasons of weak eyesight

Symptoms to be taken seriously:

How beta carotene help with eye health?

Foods for eye that can help in strong vision

1.Moringa

2.Carrot

3.Sprouted moong

4. Spinach

5.Spirulina

6.Broccoli

7.Flax seeds

8.Giloy

9.Greens:

PRODUCTS:

PARENT REVIEWS:

Read more blogs:

Reasons for weak Eyesight in kids;

1.Too much screen time:

2. Genetics:

3. Poor diet:

4. Sunlight:

5. Lack of sleep:

6. Studying in dim light:

7. Rubbing eyes:

Tips to improve weak eyesight:

Reduce the screen

Nutrition

Lighting

Frequent breaks

Hydration

Regular eye checkup

Exercise

Which food will improve eyesight?

Vitamin A:

Vitamin C:

Vitamin E:

Zinc:

Omega 3:

Antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin:

Herbs:

Recipe: Carrot and Broccoli Pasta Sauce with hidden herbs and nuts

Products:

Read more blogs

Effects of increased screen time in kids:

Effects on brain:

Effects on eyes:

Chances of obesity:

Effects on sleep:

Hamper family time:

Tips to reduce screen time:

Set an example

Step by step

Set a schedule

Stick to the rules

Screen free bedroom

Encourage other activities

Outdoor activities

Screen free zone

Foods to reduce effects

Nut and seeds

Cocoa powder

Brahmi

Vitamin A

Zinc

Product:

Read more blogs:

Common Eye Disorders in Children:

Amblyopia (lazy eyes):

Strabismus (crossed eyes):

Chalazion (sty):

Conjunctivitis:

Dry eyes:

Symptoms of eye diseases in CHILDREN

FOODS FOR EYE HEALTH:

Vitamin A:

B vitamins:

Vitamin C:

Vitamin E:

Zinc:

Antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin: