We love to enjoy Christmas parties, treats and all the traditionals that go with the season, but look out for the healthy options – they are out there! Many of the foods we eat don’t only affect our waistlines, but our eyesight as well. So, when choosing what you prepare and eat this year, think about your eyesight too. The good news is a lot of the food we eat at Christmas is good for us. The main event, turkey, contains Zinc and this is important because it helps antioxidants reduce the number of free radicals, which helps the body absorb vitamins. If you opt for salmon for Christmas Eve, it’s one of the best choices for omega-3s in your diet. Even if red meat is on the menu, don’t feel like you can’t indulge in it. Red meat contains selenium which helps your body absorb vitamin E.
Brussel Sprouts, carrots and red cabbage can be one of the best ways to get more vitamins and minerals into your system. Due to the presence of vitamin A, sprouts help improve your vision and eyesight. They also have antioxidant agents to protect the cells of the eyes from free radicals.
If you can, swap your roast potatoes for sweet potatoes, an excellent choice, as they contain vitamin A. Cranberries or cranberry-based dishes are also a great choice as cranberries contain vitamin C and E. Steamed broccoli is a good selection for vitamin E.
We always look forward to dessert, but they are generally high in sugar which can result in damage to retinal blood vessels. Americans advocate pumpkin pie as it contains vitamin A and antioxidants! Why not hop over to and you’ll find recipes for Christmas pudding and mince pies that are just as delicious but half the sugar content. Fruitcake should be very low on your list as it contains no vitamin A, vitamin C, or vitamin E. It also has high sugar content.
The good news is red wine is okay in moderation because red wine contains Quercetin which is an antioxidant. Cheers to a healthier Christmas and a happy New Year!
