Q:
Does eating carrots really improve your vision?
Nick P., Rocky Hill, NJ
A:
For generations, moms have been telling kids to eat their carrots to improve vision. But do carrots actually boost your sight?
Carrots are indeed rich in beta-carotene, a nutrient the body converts to Vitamin A, which is essential for sight. It’s also true that extreme Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness.
But only a small amount of beta-carotene is necessary for good vision. Thus, if you’re not deficient in Vitamin A (and most people in the U.S. aren’t), eating lots of carrots will not strengthen eyesight or slow decline in people who are healthy.
Besides carrots, beta-carotene is found in sweet potatoes, squash, and peppers (most any vegetable that’s dark green, orange or yellow). Such vegetables also contain lutein and xeaxanthin (both carotenoids, like beta-carotene), which in fact may help reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.