Rhubarb is a tart vegetable that is often treated as a fruit, commonly baked into pies or made into fruit compote. This vegetable contains a lot of nutrients, including several that help to keep your eyes healthy and promote good vision.
Vitamin C
A 1 c serving of tart rhubarb contains 9.8 mg of vitamin C, an amount that contributes to the 75 to 90 mg of this vitamin you require each day. Vitamin C promotes collagen production, which boosts the strength of the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. Adequate vitamin C consumption from rhubarb and other foods reduces your risk of cataracts and may prevent environmental damage to the cells of your eyes, according to the website All About Vision.
Potassium
Getting enough potassium in your diet may influence the health of your eyes, and eating rhubarb may help. A serving of this vegetable provides you with 351 mg of potassium; you need 2,000 mg of this mineral daily. Inadequate intake of potassium may trigger high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for developing glaucoma. The increased pressure in your eye that marks glaucoma may damage your optic nerve.
Vitamin A
One cup of rhubarb has 124 IU of vitamin A; you need 5,000 IU of vitamin A each day. The vitamin A in rhubarb protects your cornea from germs that can cause an infection, guards against dry eyes and may reduce your risk of macular degeneration. This vitamin also helps maintain the function of your night vision.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Eat tart rhubarb to increase your consumption of lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that influence the health of your eyes. A 1 c serving of rhubarb contains 207 mcg of these compounds. While there is no daily recommended intake of lutein and zeaxanthin, the American Optometric Association website suggests 2 to 10 mg per day. These carotenoids may lessen your risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.
References
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Rhubarb, Raw
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid); January 2009
- All About Vision; Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids: Powerful Eye Antioxidants; G. Heiting, OD; December 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Potassium; May 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Glaucoma-Risk Factors; June 2009
- All About Vision; Vitamin A and Beta Carotene: Eye Benefits; G. Heiting; October 2010
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