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What to eat for healthy eyes

Jessica H. — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:46:46 +0000

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.

Gobble Your Way to Eye Health

Jessica G. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:53:47 +0000

Did you know that parts of your Thanksgiving feast help your eyes? Diets high in antioxidants like vitamin A and lutein (which your body converts into an antioxidant) have been connected with lowered rates of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Here are some harvest favorites that are high in nutrients that support the health of your peepers—and taste great!

Sweet potatoes: An excellent source of beta-carotene, which your body converts into the essential anti-oxidant vitamin A. For a refreshingly basic take on these oft over-sweetened veggies, try tossing chunks in olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasting in a hot oven.
Pumpkin: With lots of vitamin A and a powerful wallop of beta-carotene and lutein, who needs to feel guilty about a second serving of pumpkin pie?
Green beans, brussels sprouts, and broccoli: Each is a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect the retina from light damage. To let the flavor of these veggies shine, try them lightly steamed or roasted in the oven.

And don’t forget your leafy greens! The deeper the color, the healthier they are for you and your eyes.

VSP wishes you and yours a happy, healthy, Thanksgiving!

Is it time for lunch yet?

Jace D. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:00:48 +0000

Jace D. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations Team.

I’m not much of a brown bag lunch type of guy. To me, PB&J sandwiches are only exciting for about this….long. Thankfully, I’m spoiled rotten at work with the options coming out of our two amazing cafés on campus: Visions Café and Specs, which are run through a partnership with VSP and Bon Appétit. Here’s a short list of why I love the food at work:

1. Quality – The majority of the food on the menu is grown and bought locally. “Farm to Fork” as they call it, is the café’s way of supporting the local farming communities and in turn, providing the freshest food to people like me on the other end.

2. Value – I’m getting a healthy meal with exceptional taste for less money than I would spend on some processed slop at the nearest drive-thru (sadly, a temptation I still live with).

3. The Wow Factor – Whenever a business partner, friend, or family member joins me for lunch, they are blown away at the food and service VSP employees enjoy every day.

4. Variety – The menu is packed with choices, and they change daily. From fresh fish, to vegetarian dishes, to wraps, there is truly something for everyone.

5. Just look at it! (But pardon the cell phone quality picture – it doesn’t do my lunch justice)

Hungry yet?