Thanksgiving is one of the most wonderful times of year – a time to spend with our loved ones, express our thanks and eat lots and lots of food.
One of the greatest ways we can practice gratitude for our lives this Thanksgiving is to prioritize our health – especially the health of our eyes, since this is how we’re able to experience and appreciate the world around us.
The most effective way to do this is through our nutrition, making sure to consume the right vitamins and minerals to support the health of our eyes and ward against vision problems and blindness.
With this in mind, here are some mouth-watering dishes to try this Thanksgiving that are chock full of beneficial vitamins for your eyes.
Sweet potato casserole.
As well as being a deliciously comforting dish to add to your Thanksgiving spread, sweet potato casserole is filled with vitamins including A, C, B6 and thiamin.
Vitamin A is a component of an important protein in the eye that allows us to see in low light conditions, while vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects the eye from harmful free radicals.
What’s more, B6 vitamins are associated with a reduced risk of acquiring AMD (age-related macular degeneration) a leading cause of blindness, while thiamin is thought to reduce the risk of eye diseases such as cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.
Check out the recipe here.
Pumpkin Soup.
There’s nothing that suits the fall season better than pumpkin-based dishes and snacks, and pumpkin soup is the perfect starter to warm you up this Thanksgiving.
Like sweet potato, pumpkin is a great source of vitamins A, C and B6 essential for eye health.
Check out the recipe here.
Kale and toasted almond salad.
Salad is an essential component of your Thanksgiving meal – and since kale is one of the most nutritionally dense vegetables, as a top source of vitamin A and C and carotenoids, it makes sense to make your salad kale-dense.
Kale is full of lutein and zeaxanthin, which help filter damaging blue light before it reaches the macula and retina. These carotenoids are thought to help prevent cataracts and slow AMD.
Check out the recipe here.
Triple nut pie.
Who said desserts can’t be good for you? With this nut-filled treat, you can boost your eye health thanks to the omega-3s, vitamin E and niacin, among more, found in the walnuts and pecan nuts used to make this dessert.
Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant that protects eyes from oxidative damage, while omega-3s are essential for the production of healthy eye cells. Omega-3s are also anti-inflammatory – a property thought to help prevent diabetic neuropathy.
Check out the recipe here.
So, to make the most of your Thanksgiving dinner and eat delicious food while safeguarding the health of your eyes, make sure to try out some of these fantastic recipes this Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
