Tag Archives: uv rays

Filed under: HEALTH!

Pumpkin of your Eye?

Written by on October 26th 2012

Pumpkins are a sure sign of fall.  We may carve one for Halloween, decorate with them for Thanksgiving, not to mention baking one into a pie.  But did you know that pumpkin is also a powerhouse of nutrients that are essential for good eye health?

A serving of fresh pumpkin (100 grams) contains 246% of RDA Vitamin A. Vitamin A, also found in high amounts in carrots, is essential in the eye for the proper function of rods (night vision) and cones (color vision).  Pumpkin also contains the powerful anti-oxidants Vitamin C and E which act to prevent cellular damage and aging.

If that weren’t enough reason to eat some pumpkin, it also contains nutrients that protect the macula from age-related macular degeneration.  The phyto-nutrients lutein and zea-xanthin act as a natural “sunscreen” of the macula which protects it from damage from UV rays as we get older.

Pumpkin seeds contain high amounts of zinc, which has also been shown to have a protective effect on the macula.

This year when you are buying your pumpkin to carve, buy an extra to try in a new recipe, like this one I really like from Cooking Light Magazine: Spicy Chicken and Pumpkin Stew!

                                                                                                                                                                            Written by: Dr. Deana Labrosse

(Dr. Labrosse is in on Wednesdays and every other Saturday!)

Continue Reading >