You may have been told or heard that “carrots are good for your eyes” but not for the reasons that most people think. Most people when they hear that statement assume it means you won’t need glasses or it reduces the need for them. The need for glasses is determined by the optics of the eye (how light rays are bent) which is more related to genetics and eye structure than the nutritional state of the eye tissues.
Carrots are rich in the supply of beta-carotene, a carotenoid, that is made into Vitamin A by your body. However, if your body doesn’t need Vit. A, it doesn’t make more.
What vitamin A does is help with your ability to see by allowing the receptors in your eye to work more efficiently. Vitamin A is needed in the chemical processes that occur that change light signals into electrical signals that get sent to the vision center in the brain. It is especially needed for night vision. Often times though poor night vision is the result of uncorrected vision problems that glasses would help with. A state of the art, anti-glare treatment on the lenses also maximizes the sharpness and comfort of the night vision as well.
Actually, other vegetables are probably better for your eye health overall. Spinach leaves or other dark leafy vegetables like Kale are better due to the amount of lutein and zeazanthin carotenoid pigments as well as vitamins and minerals. All darker colored fruits and vegetables with red, orange, dark green, yellow and purple colors are going to be great for the eyes. Pale colored iceberg lettuce doesn’t count, it’s basically fiber.
So while you might think, “A salad a day keeps the eye doctor away, ” this is partially true. At least in regards to the health of the eye. If your eye does not refract light correctly, no food in the world will make it focus better. Only a lens in front will make you see clearly. So go ahead, eat those carrots and other veggies to help keep the eyes healthy. Just make sure to leave off the ranch dressing.
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