What foods are rich in vitamin C and zinc?

Many people often tear up easily from the slightest irritation. Generally speaking, a deficiency in vitamin A or vitamin B2 for more than six months can cause narrowing or blockage of the tear ducts, leading to excessive tear secretion from the lacrimal glands.

Therefore, people prone to tearing should eat more foods rich in vitamins A and B2, mainly cod liver oil and various root vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and yams. Some prescriptions that inhibit the lacrimal gland nerves can also be used, such as the Datura stramonium formula: 3 grams of Datura stramonium, 6 grams of raw licorice root, and 8 red dates. Decoct in water and drink the liquid twice a day, taking the first and second decoctions separately, 3 hours apart. However, it should be noted that Datura stramonium is poisonous, but this formula uses a small amount and is combined with licorice root to detoxify, so it will not cause toxic side effects.

Another point is that most people have poor eye antibacterial ability, making their eyes prone to inflammation and infection. This could be due to internal heat, or a deficiency in vitamins B2 and C. In such cases, it's advisable to eat more foods that reduce internal heat and are rich in vitamins B2 and C.

You can make your own water chestnut and sugarcane drink to reduce internal heat. The method is as follows: Wash and peel 60 grams of water chestnuts and 60 grams of sugarcane, put them in a pot with water and simmer to make a soup. Drink 2-3 times a day, each time a small teacup's worth is enough. Those traveling can make a larger batch before leaving and store it in small bottles for later consumption.

The incidence of age-related cataracts is very high, with a prevalence rate of over 70% to 80% in people over 70 years old. The dietary principle for cataract treatment is to choose foods high in protein, zinc, and vitamin C.

You can make your own walnut paste. Grind walnuts into a paste, take 2 spoonfuls each time you eat it, dilute it with 1 cup of warm soy milk, and add 1 teaspoon of honey. Eat it after breakfast, or add half the soy milk and sandwich the mashed walnut paste in your breakfast steamed buns or bread. You can also make some black and white bean snacks. Boil 30 grams of soybeans and 30 grams of white kidney beans over high heat until soft, then add 10 black dates and continue to boil until soft. Mix the three ingredients well, add flour and mix well, then shape them into small round snacks and heat them on a griddle or in an oven over low heat. You can eat 2-3 pieces after your afternoon nap each day.

Four dietary suggestions:

Eat more foods containing vitamins C and E

Vitamin C helps prevent cataracts by reducing damage to the lens from light and oxygen. Foods rich in vitamin C include tomatoes, spinach, onions, cabbage, green beans, strawberries, oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines. Low levels of vitamin E in the blood can also promote cataracts. Reduced vitamin E levels increase oxidation, making the lens proteins more prone to aggregation and clouding. Vitamin E is abundant in vegetables, sunflower seed oil, peanut oil, grains, beans, dark green vegetables, liver, eggs, and dairy products.

Eat more selenium-rich foods

Selenium is a semi-metallic element, and its effect on visual acuity is directly related to its content. Selenium deficiency in the human body can induce lens opacity, leading to cataracts, a fact already confirmed by scientists. Foods rich in selenium include fish, shrimp, dairy products, animal liver, meat, and nuts.

Eat more zinc-rich foods

Serum zinc levels are related to the incidence of cataracts. It is generally believed that animal-based foods are richer in zinc than plant-based foods, and the zinc in these foods is more easily absorbed. Among animal-based foods, oysters, fish, lean meat, animal organs, and eggs are high in zinc. Among plant-based foods, whole grains, seaweed, nuts, beans, Chinese cabbage, radishes, and eggplants are relatively rich in zinc.

Drink more tea

Medical researchers have found that people who drink five cups of tea daily are significantly less likely to develop cataracts than elderly people who don't drink tea or rarely drink it. Scholars believe this is related to the high tannin content in tea. Modern medicine considers cataracts to be caused by oxidation in the body. The high tannin content in tea can inhibit the oxidation reactions that produce free radicals in the body, thus demonstrating the effective preventative effect of tea against cataracts.