“You can tell the food that’s good for your organs by the look”
The most famous myths about fruit and vegetables are used to encourage people to eat healthier. For example, kidney beans are good for your kidneys, Mushrooms are good for the ears, and Carrots are good for the eyes. With that being said, if you want a healthier kidney, and proper functioning ears and eyes, the best vegetables to eat are kidneys, mushrooms, and carrots, respectively, or at least that’s what the myth implies. In today’s Health Fitness Revolution Article we will be shedding light on the theory that the consumption of carrots promotes healthy vision.
Anatomy of the Eye:
The eye is made of up 7 general parts, The Cornea, Pupil, Lens, Iris, Optic nerve, Fovea, and Retina. The cornea is the clear part that covers the iris, it also receives nourishment from tears. The pupil hole is located at the center of the iris and allows light to enter, this is also the part that dilates and contracts due to the amount of light. The lens helps focus light and images in your eye. The optic nerve transmits the objects you see from the retina to the brain for processing through electrical pulses. The fovea focuses light and color differentiation using cones, it provides the clearest vision of all the parts of the eye. Lastly, the retina receives light focused from the lens and sends it to the brain for recognition.
Properties of a Carrot:
Carrots are vegetables comprised of mostly water, carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fiber. Carrots also contain Vitamin A, C, biotin, and potassium. Water in the body is a holy grail, it increases cognitive functions and flushes out toxins. Carbohydrates are used for energy in the body, and proteins are the building blocks for tissue in the body. Dietary fiber can not be digested by our body because it is plant-derived, dietary fiber increases healthy bowel movement. Vitamin A originally starts off as beta-carotene and is later converted to Vitamin A during the digestion process, it promotes good vision and is essential for growth and immune functions. Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid encourages absorption of Iron. Biotin encourages healthy hair, skin, and nails. Potassium regulates fluid in the body, nerve signals, and muscle contractions.
Carrots and the Eyes:
As stated earlier carrots contain Vitamin A which promotes healthy vision. Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness and blurry vision, as well as other complications with the liver and skin. Vitamin A allows opsin proteins, such as rhodopsin, to create cone cells. Recall that cones are located in the fovea which provides the clearest vision for the eye. There is a major difference between enabling and improving vision, and that is where the misconception between carrots and the eye come from. Consumption of carrots will sustain the health of your eyes not improve vision. So are carrots good for the eye? Yes, but they will not change the health of your eyes rather they sustain the condition that your eyes are in.
