Feel Free To Eat Your Eyes Healthy

So we’re halfway through July, the month in which we are beginning to enjoy the fruits of our labour in our eye garden. The warm-weather crops are ripening and it’s time to savour the tastiest and most tender harvest. If you call into either of the practices you will see a plethora of tasty vegetable for you to pick and take home. We offer all our produce completely free of charge. Why? Because it’s our way of helping our clients, and our clients to be, to look after their eye health. We currently have the following selection of vegetables for all;

Peas

We’ve had enough fresh peas to feed an army, but releasing them from their pods still brings back happy childhood memories. Did you know that one cup of peas contains more protein than an egg? We particularly like adding them to risotto or pasta,  Alternatively try mashing just picked raw peas with some olive oil, salt and pepper, spread on toasted or on some sliced ciabatta and topping with some mozzarella and mint. Yum! Peas are an outstanding food for all round good eye health. Contain a myriad of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and zinc, peas help support the eyes and can help protect them from age-related damage.

Carrots

A fabulous year-round crop our current harvest of Chantenay carrots are delicious both raw and cooked. Perfect in juices, salads, soups, smoothies and even carrot cake! They’re packed with beta-carotene which the body converts into vitamin A for the retina and other parts of the eye to function smoothly. We still have plenty of carrots available for one and all, so feel free to pop by one of our practices and help yourself to some tasty carrots and any other vegetables you fancy.

Runner Beans

Our runner beans have ripened early this year but that they are still deliciously crunchy and great served in a fresh new potato and pancetta salad, with an olive oil and lemon dressing. Or you can enjoy them as a traditional accompaniment to a home cooked Sunday lunch. Runner beans are extremely rich in antioxidants, which they’re brilliant for our heart health. The antioxidants in runner beans include carotenoids, these give the runner bean its bright green colour. Carotenoids perform a key role in maintaining eye health, and protecting our eyes from degenerative diseases.

Broad Beans

Now here’s an Allegro Optical favourite and they are currently at their best. These little green nuggets are packed with fibre and protein helping us to stay fuller for longer, No that’s really handy as we all try to trim down for the holidays. We like to boil them as a side dish or add them to our favourite salads. Broad beans contain Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) which it is thought helps to protect the body from eye ailments such as glaucoma and cataracts.

Assorted Lettuce

Lettuce is packed with vitamins and minerals and we have lots of them, free to anyone who wants one. We use them in all kinds of salads with homemade vinaigrette. Lettuce (the dark leaf types especially) contains zeaxanthin, a super antioxidant that boosts vision health. It has been found to prevent age-related macular degeneration.

Savoy Cabbage

Usually a winter crop we seem to have an abundance of Savoy cabbage in July. With its tasty nutty flavour it is making a fabulous base for summer slaws. A world away from the bland, soggy cabbage of our childhood! The beta carotene in savoy cabbage is very effective in maintaining eye health. Research has found that beta carotene can help to sharpen vision and helps to prevent myopic disease. In addition, it is also thought to be effective in helping to prevent cataracts.

Growing Meltham

We are now working with Edible Meltham a local group who are encouraging us all in the area to ‘grow our own’ fruit, vegetables and herbs. The group runs numerous community projects, with seed distribution, local beds and lots of fun activities for all ages. We’ve been inviting local people to come and help themselves to our delicious vegetables and herbs. Not only do they look fabulous, brightening up our little practice, they are all really good for eyes.