The Top 5 Thanksgiving Foods That Are Good for Your Eyes

Yesterday, I talked about how Thanksgiving food can make you tired. And while that's true, there's also a secret health benefit you may not know about. It’s good for your eyes!

Turns out Thanksgiving is good for your eyes! I don't simply say that because football is on. Thanksgiving food actually has a lot of nutrients that can help your eyesight. So today, I want to dive into the top Thanksgiving foods you should try to help your eyesight.

Turkey: You were probably going to eat turkey anyways. But now, you can chow down and know it's helping your eyes. Turkey is full of zinc and Vitamin B Niacin, which helps prevent cataracts.

Leafy Greens: When your parents told you to eat your veggies, it was good advice. Some common Thanksgiving greens are loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin. Those are 2 key nutrients that protect the retina. And like turkey, they also reduce the risk of cataracts.

Here are the leafy greens you should load up on:

Spinach
Green Bean Casserole
Asparagus
Brussels Sprouts
Kale
Peas

Sweet Potatoes: Who doesn't love a good sweet potato? Well, sweet potatoes love you too. They're full of Beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps with night vision.

Plus, you get loads of vitamins C and E in every bite. Studies show that diets rich in these vitamins can help with macular degeneration. That's just a fancy way of saying they help your eyes stay young and healthy.

Cranberry Sauce: Cranberry sauce is a staple at my family's Thanksgiving table. And not just for the flavor. Cranberries contain bioflavonoids, a large class of antioxidants. In short, these antioxidants help protect the eyes from free radical damage. That's damage caused by pollution and the body's normal metabolic process.

Pumpkin Pie: Finally, let's talk about dessert. Pumpkin is a great source of vitamin A, which makes pumpkin pie an "eye health superfood." In fact, it only takes 1 cup of cooked, mashed pumpkin to hit more than 200% of the recommended daily amount. Vitamin A helps nourish and protect your eye's lens, cornea and macula. Pretty good for some dessert.

The most important part is to keep a good diet. Altogether, you can turn your Thanksgiving meal into a bullet-proof vest for your eyes. Which foods are you piling onto your plate this Thanksgiving? Let me know in the comments below.