Does Eating Carrots Improve Eyesight?

News Desk

Islamabad: Eating carrots improves eyesight may sound like a myth to you but the scientific research behind this hypothesis suggests that it may actually be possible.

According to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Future report, carrots are rich in a molecule called ‘beta carotene’. Beta carotene is the pigment that gives carrots their orange or red colour and is useful for eyesight.

Carrot is a popular and nutritious winter vegetable in Pakistan, eaten in various ways and cultivated for thousands of years. It is available in different colours in different parts of the world but the most common is the orange carrot which is believed to have been cultivated by Dutch farmers in the 16th century.

Beta carotene is also a precursor of Vitamin A which is used by our body to boost health. The liver converts the beta carotene into Vitamin A which helps to improve our eyesight, including our vision at night.

Within our eyes, there are light sensors known as rods which are sensitive at low light. Rods rely on the chemical ‘rhodopsin’ to work. Vitamin A is used to make rhodopsin. It is a highly light-sensitive pigment and helps us see when there isn’t much light.

When light hits the rhodopsin in the back of our eyes, there is a change in the structure of the pigment. This leads to a protein known as ‘transducin’ travelling to the part of the rod that creates nerve impulses.

When the transducin arrives, a nerve impulse is created. Our brain uses this impulse to see.

This shows that carrots are a healthy food for the eyes which helps sharpen our vision.

It is also worth noting that not only carrots but other vegetables also play an important role in improving eyesight, including okra, cabbage, apricots and dry fruits.