Posts Tagged ‘carrots’

What to eat for healthy eyes

Posted on December 2nd, 2011 by Jessica H.

I recently worked the education table at the CareNow event in Los Angeles, and one of the most popular questions I was asked was about nutrition for your eyes.  I was excited about this question since I have a degree in nutrition but also thought it was curious how many people realized there is a correlation between food and healthy vision, beyond the carrot myth.

While carrots are great, they are not the only thing to support healthy eyes.  As part of an overall healthy diet, several key nutrients seem to be particularly important to preserving sight.

  • Vitamin C: found in peppers, dark leafy green vegetables, strawberries and oranges
  • Vitamin E: found in dark leafy greens, peppers, nuts and vegetable oils
  • Zinc: found in peanuts, pumpkin seeds, oysters and dark chocolate
  • Lutein and Zeaxanthin: found in spinach, broccoli and other dark green vegetables
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acid: found in flaxseed, walnuts and salmon
To learn more about food and eye health, visit the Center.

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The merits of carrots for your eyes

Posted on October 21st, 2011 by Tammi B.

What’s up with carrots, Doc? Many of us grew up hearing that if we ate lots of carrots, our vision would improve. My own dad dangled the prospect of better vision through carrot consumption in front of me like the proverbial “carrot on a stick” but he used actual cooked carrots. And I hated cooked carrots, but I ate them hoping that one miraculous morning, I would wake up and find I no longer needed my glasses. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen.

Yes, I am still wearing my glasses, but I haven’t turned my back on the noble Daucus carota, sativus just yet. Carrots may not have the ability to repair poor vision for most of us, but they are an excellent source of antioxidants, fiber, minerals, and vitamin A. Lack of vitamin A can cause poor vision, which is restorable by adding it back into the diet. It is one of the few vegetables that is more nutritious cooked than raw (thanks, Dad) and is used medicinally in many cultures. For more carrot trivia, check out the World Carrot Museum.

Over time, I learned to appreciate the taste of cooked carrots, especially when served with roast beef. But my favorite way to have them is uncooked and shredded in carrot raisin salad.  Enjoy!

File under: cataracts, eye health, Macular Degeneration, Top Posts | Tagged: , , , , , ,
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Want 20/20 Eyesight?

Posted on July 14th, 2009 by Sara B.
Sara B. is part of VSP's Finance team.

Sara B. is part of VSP's Finance team.

Forget about making that dash to the soda machine. Don’t even think of having a Diet Coke with that Chipotle burrito! Feeling thirsty? Why not reach for a tall, refreshing, nutritional glass of carrot juice? Yes, you heard me correctly; I said carrot juice! Not only is carrot juice good for your overall health, but it is excellent for your eyes, too!

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which our bodies are able to convert into vitamin A. Vitamin A is vital for eye health; in fact, vitamin A deficiency can cause poor vision, including night vision. However, research suggests that incorporating vitamin A into your diet aids in fighting vision problems like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and night blindness.

Why is eyesight so important? Because, our eyes are our windows to the world and we are constantly using them. Just think of how much strain we put on our eyes daily—from sitting in front of the computer all day at work, watching TV when we get home, reading before bedtime, or driving at night. Since we are using our eyes every second of the day, we need to take extra care of them to ensure they stay healthy.

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File under: eye health | Tagged: , , , , ,
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