Carrots vs Spinach : Bugs Bunny vs Popeye
You’ve heard it for years…”carrots are good for your eyes” but are they really. Well, yes and no. Carrots won’t necessarily improve your vision, but the vitamins found in carrots (beta-carotene a substance that converts to vitamin A) are important for the health of the eye. But much of what we have been led to believe about consuming carrots for eyesight came from propaganda from World War II. It seems that the British spread word that the diet of these vegetables helped RAF pilots shoot down German fighters and bombers at night. The lie was intended to cover up the real success of the RAF which was Airborne Interception RADAR. You see, the RADAR alerted the British airforce that German planes were on their way which allowed for faster response time in defending the homeland.
Spinach contains several antioxidants/carotenoinds (lutein and zeaxanthin) that help protect the retina especially the macula from oxidative distress. Studies are underway to determine just how important these two carotenoids are in protecting the eye from disease. AREDS (Age Related Eye Disease Study) showed evidence that lutein helped reduce the chances of Macular Degeneration. AREDS II now is underway.
So, in the epic battle of carrots vs. spinach who wins……Your child of course! Now, it is your job to convince them to eat their vegetables. Bugs Bunny and Popeye are counting on you!
