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Carrots Are Not The Only Source Of Eye-Healthy Vitamin A

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If you're like most people, your mother told you numerous times to eat your carrots because they're good for your eyes. It is true that carrots are high in vitamin A, which is essential for ongoing eye health. But if you happen to not like carrots or prefer not to look like a bunny rabbit on a daily basis, there are many other vitamin A-rich foods you can reach for.

Sweet Potatoes

A single serving of sweet potato contains a whopping 214% of the daily value of vitamin A. Bake one up a few times a week for dinner, and your eyes will be in tip-top shape. An easy way to make sweet potatoes is in the microwave. Stab one with a fork, microwave it for about 4 to 6 minutes, and let it rest for about 5 minutes before topping it with a little butter and brown sugar.

Spinach

Its ability to make Popeye strong may have been a bit of an exaggeration, but spinach really is a  good source of eye-healthy vitamin A. A cup of raw spinach contains 56% of the daily value. While tossing some in a salad is a simple way to enjoy it, you can also add spinach to mashed potatoes, fried rice, and most any casserole without it really changing the flavor or consistency of the dish.

Apricots

They're sweet, tender, and juicy -- what's not to love? Apricots are available fresh, canned, and dried. A cup of dried apricot halves contains 94% of the daily value of vitamin A. You can pack them in your bag and enjoy them throughout the day when you're craving a snack. The fresh ones are also delicious baked into a pie or crumble. You can also add a handful of frozen apricots to your morning smoothie to give it some sweetness and a vitamin A boost.

Fish

Eating fish for dinner a few times per week is already a good choice because of the omega-3 fatty acid content of the fish. The vitamin A in fish is yet another reason to make it a larger component of your diet. Tuna contains about 21% of the daily value of vitamin A per 3-ounce serving. A serving of herring contains 12% of the daily value, as does a serving of mackerel.

To learn more about vitamin A and its sources, speak to a nutritionist, or even to your eye doctor. They can give you an eye exam and let you know if you're getting enough vitamin A in your diet or if you should focus on incorporating more of these foods into your eating plan.


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