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Yes Carrots Are Good for Your Vision
Carrots and applesauce make a sweet treat that’s good for your eyes.
“Carrots are a good source of Vitamin A, which is known to improve eye health.” — Albert Arteaga, M.D.
REDLANDS, CALIF. — During April, we celebrate International Carrot Day. The old saying about carrots being good for your vision is true. Carrots have nutrients that help eye health in several ways. Chief among them is Vitamin A.
“Carrots are a good source of Vitamin A, which is known to improve eye health,” says Dr. Albert Arteaga, President of LaSalle Medical Associates, one of the largest privately owned and operated healthcare organizations in the Inland Empire.
The 2023 Digital Health Award-winning Internet site, All About Vision, says that the Vitamin A in carrots provides several benefits, including:
- Protecting your corneas
- Decreasing the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration
- Delaying peripheral vision loss
- Creating a protective layer against bacteria and viruses
- Alleviating the symptoms of dry eye syndrome
- Slowing vision loss in people with retinitis pigmentosa
- Impeding the progression of Stargardt’s disease (early onset central vision loss)
On the other hand, vitamin A deficiency can cause:
- Dry eyes
- Night blindness
- Vision loss
“Parents who have children who don’t like the taste of raw or cooked carrots by themselves may be able to get their kids to eat them by combining carrots with other foods that are rich in Vitamin A and add sweet-tooth-pleasing flavors, such as mangoes, cantaloupes, sweet red peppers, and sweet potatoes,” said Dr. Arteaga.
Carrots also contain beta-carotene, which is what gives red, orange, and yellow vegetables their color. Once eaten, your body converts it into retinol, another name for vitamin A. Healthline points out that research shows that beta-carotene is also good for your skin and may even improve cognitive health, although more research is needed about that.
Dr. Arteaga adds one caution: If you eat too many beta-carotene-rich foods, your skin may start to turn yellow. “All things in moderation,” he says.
“It is recommended that both children and adults undergo an annual check-up. At LaSalle, the checkup includes a comprehensive blood workup that can identify any vitamin deficiencies. This enables doctors to provide tailored suggestions regarding medicine, diet, and exercise that are specific to the needs of each patient,” explained Dr. Arteaga.
For an appointment at one of the six Inland Empire LaSalle clinics, please visit LaSalleMedicalAssociates.com or call 1-855-349-6019.
About LaSalle Medical Associates
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest independent and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high-quality patient care to over 350,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tulare counties.
