Ep. 352: Beyond Carrots - Here are the Best Foods For Eye Health with Rani Banik, MD

Rip sits down with integrative neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Rani Banik to explore how nutrition, lifestyle, and daily habits shape your long-term eye health.From macular degeneration and glaucoma to digital eye strain and screen overload, Dr. Banik breaks down what’s really happening inside your eyes—and what you can do today to protect your vision for life.We’re talking about the foods that protect your vision, what screen time is really doing to your eyes, whether sunglasses are helping or hurting, and how stress and sleep might be silently impacting your eyesight.Key TakeawaysThe top 3 nutrient categories for eye health:Macular carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin)Bioflavonoids (especially from berries)Omega fatty acids (seeds like chia, flax, hemp)Why kale may be the #1 food for protecting your visionThe shocking truth about screen time (11–12 hours/day) and digital eye strainThe 20-20-20 rule to instantly reduce eye fatigueWhy blinking less on screens (75% reduction) leads to dry, strained eyesThe real risks of sun exposure—and when to wear sunglassesWhat macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts actually are (explained simply)How diet alone may reduce macular degeneration risk by up to 43%The surprising connection between stress, sleep, and vision lossWhy annual eye exams after age 40 are critical for overall healthEpisode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeLearn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/ Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyLearn More About Our Corporate Wellness Program: https://liveplantstrong.com/corporate-wellness/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrong.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify