| May is a great time to focus on the health of your eyes, and what better way to do that than head for the kitchen? The National Eye Institute has found that there are a number of nutrients found in key foods that help protect and support proper eye function. Overall, foods rich in antioxidants, beta carotene, vitamin C, lutein, xeaxanthin, zinc and omega-3 fats are the most important foods for preventing macular degeneration. Next time you’re at the grocery store, stock your cart with: - Carrots: full of beta carotene, these starchy vegetables are easy and delicious to add to any meal or use as a snack.
- Bell Peppers, Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts: Theses veggies pack a powerful punch of vitamin C, and they’re great steamed, roasted, sautéed, or added fresh to salads and pastas.
- Turkey: Rich in zinc and the B-vitamin niacin, this lean meat protects your eyes against cataracts. Gobble it up as a burger, in chili or tacos, as a sandwich meat, and in salads!
- Sweet potatoes: Another orange piece of produce full of beta carotene, Sweet potatoes are super sight support. You can bake them, roast, them, grill them, and use them in puddings, cakes, breads, and pies, too!
- Spinach: This leafy green contains vitamin C, beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, four eye-protecting power ingredients! And there’s not much you can’t do with spinach. Salads, sides, pastas, casseroles…it’s good in just about everything.
- Wild Salmon and/or Sardines: These fishes are excellent sources of Omega-3 fats, which can help protect the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. Grill them, bake them, and add them to sandwiches or salads for an extra bit of protein and eye protection at the same time!
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