Cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes good for your eyes

December 4, 2009

The holidays have a reputation of being bad for our waistlines, but many traditional Christmas dishes are actually beneficial to our eye health.

For example, the American Optometric Association recommends eating plenty of fruits and vegetables to reduce your risk of eye health issues like cataracts and glaucoma. For a seasonal serving of the helpful fruit, why not try a mug of hot apple cider?

The AMD Alliance suggests that the zinc found in the Christmas bird will benefit your eye health. Almost all poultry contains the mineral, the website reports, so opt for chicken or turkey over a honey-ham when you feast.

And finally, cranberry sauce is full of Vitamin C, which seems to delay the onset of advanced macular degeneration, the news source reports.

Carrots might not help you see in the dark, like the old wives' tale suggests, but they are good for your peepers. Sweet potato casserole and carrots both provide eye-healthy beta carotene, so make sure to include those festive orange dishes on your table.

To maximize the eye health benefits, try to prepare the vegetables and fruits as simply as possible. Then dig in!