Healthy antioxidants are what I’m talkin’ about here. Eating foods chock-full of specific antioxidants and minerals can significantly benefit the health of our eyes. Since we have bood sugar issues and full blown diabetes on both sides of our family, and since I need a pretty high vision prescription, I’m interested in this aspect of nutrition. Here’s what some researched pointed out:

The guava, for instance, is considered a superfruit for its exceptional nutrient richness, antioxidant quality and taste. And it’s bursting with vitamin C — a half cup serving offers 188 mg vitamin C, knocking off the traditional vitamin C “king,” the orange (which only packs 53 mg).

It’s recommended we get at least 500 mg of vitamin C daily, so the guava could be a big help in this direction. (Research also links vitamin C to the prevention of cataracts and eye-pressure reduction in glaucoma patients.) The guava also has carotenoids, folate, potassium, calcium and iron. Bring on the guava!

And then there are the super greens: kale, spinach, Swiss chard, watercress and beet greens. They boast the highest natural combination of the carotenoid antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin—26.5 mg per cup. Lutein, the primary carotenoid located in the retina, filters out harmful UVB light and threatening free radicals.

Studies recommend 6 mg of lutein daily, which reduces the risk of AMD (age-related macular degeneration) by nearly 57%. Doctors feel it is by far the number one nutritional treatment for this disease (AMD). These greens also offer vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K, beta-carotene, fiber, protein, calcium, potassium, and folate. I vote for super greens!

Finally, who could forget the beautiful sweet bell peppers? Is this a gorgeous food, or what! The red bell pepper, especially, ranks as one of the highest plant sources of vitamin E and beta-carotene. Plus they contain lutein. All sweet peppers burst with vitamin C — around 141 mg per half cup serving. Wit hthe benefits these antioxidants provide for eye health, bell peppers are a one-stop-shop for healthier eyes.

This said, here’s a couple recipes we can not only feast our eyes on, but create a feast for our eyes! (Clever, huh?)

Fabulous Fajitas
(Supposedly serves 10, but get real...)

2 green bell peppers, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms
Handful of fresh greens, washed and cut into very thin strips
2 cups diced, cooked chicken meat
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
10 (12 inch) flour tortillas

Cut peppers and onion into thin slices. Do not dice, leave slices long and thin. Saute peppers and onion in a small amount of oil until tender. Add mushrooms, greens, and chicken. Continue to cook on low heat until heated through. Stir in dry salad dressing mix and blend thoroughly. Warm tortillas and roll mixture inside. If desired top with shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomato and shredded lettuce.