Posts Tagged ‘lutein’

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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Help Save Your Eyes

Posted on December 28th, 2009 by Sara B.

Blog 4 pictureDid you know that carrots are not the only vegetable that can protect your eyes? Dr. Jennifer Ashton recently discussed some other eye-healthy foods on, “The Early Show.” According to Dr. Ashton, lutein and zeaxanthin are the most beneficial cartenoids for eye health. In fact, there are foods that are good for our eyes and taste delicious, too, that most of us are not even aware of. Below is a list of some of these foods, which promote eye health.

  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • PeasBlog 4 picture_2
  • Zucchini
  • Broccoli
  • Other leafy greens
  • Orange peppers
  • Corn
  • Oranges
  • Honeydew melon
  • Egg yolks

Why is it so important to protect our eyes, you may ask? Dr. Ashton states it in simple logic:

“The thinking is that our eyes age just like other parts of our body, and things like these substances can really make a big difference in preventing things like macular degeneration and cataracts.” Read more »

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Gobble Your Way to Eye Health

Posted on November 25th, 2009 by Jessica G.

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.sprouts

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!

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Avocados: Good for your eyes; good in your belly.

Posted on August 3rd, 2009 by Jessica G.
Jessica G. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

Jessica G. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

Every day, we hear about the latest “super food” that does everything from promoting weight loss to honing your memory. While nutritional fads may come and go, some foods do contain specific vitamins and antioxidants that help prevent eye diseases and promote overall eye health.

One of my favorites: the avocado. Beyond its inherently delicious flavor and buttery-smooth texture, the flesh of the avocado contains high levels of vitamins C, B6, and E, as well as the crucial antioxidant, Lutein. Lutein helps to reduce the risk of eye conditions, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Beyond its abundance in avocados, lutein can also be found in fruits and veggies with brightly-colored flesh, or in dark leafy greens.avocado

Avocados can be an acquired taste. Even though I’m a native Californian and have had access to exceptional produce my whole life, I’ve only learned to love the avocado somewhat recently. For those who haven’t yet embraced this ugly duckling of the fruit world, here’s a quick, easy, and delicious introduction to the avocado: guacamole, my style.

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