This Thanksgiving, show your family how much they mean to you by preparing a meal beneficial to their eye health. The task is easier than you may think — there are plenty of foods that are rich in the nutrients that regulate eye function, promote healthy eyesight, and stave off conditions that could lead to vision loss.
Turkey
You will be pleased to hear that the main dish of the evening is good for the eyes. Turkey contains high levels of zinc, a mineral that offers various benefits to the eyes such as reducing the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and slowing the risk of cataracts, says EyeCare 20/20.
Cranberries
Make sure you include plenty of cranberries in your meal, whether you add them to pies, use them in side dishes, over the turkey, or turn them in a traditional cranberry sauce. The superfood is high in vitamin A and the antioxidant vitamin C, two more nutrients that can help prevent cataracts and AMD. In fact, cranberries contain more antioxidants than almost any fruit or vegetable, reports Acucela.
Pumpkin
Cooked, mashed pumpkin makes an excellent side dish or pie, but it may also help you to see better, particularly in low levels of light. Just half a cup contains more than your entire recommended daily intake of vitamin A.
Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup
Sweet potato is a classic ingredient for a Thanksgiving dinner. One of the best ways to use the vegetable is to combine it with carrot to create a delicious soup high in beta-carotene, a carotenoid and antioxidant that the body converts into vitamin A. Find a recipe rich in ingredients that contribute to eye health at Eye Smart.
A healthy diet alone is not enough to keep your kids’ eyes healthy; it is essential that you also stay safe from the sun. Skies may look overcast, but UV rays are still just as damaging to the eyes. Protect your children with a pair of shades from Real Kids, all of which block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.