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Sunday 7 November 2021

Do Carrots Help You See In The Dark?


Have you ever wondered; Do carrots help you see in the dark? Well ... simply put, yes and no. Carrots contain Vitamin A, otherwise known as Retinol (and some readers may already be drawing the link between “retinol” and “retina”).

What is Retinol?
Retinol is what your body requires in order to synthesize Rhodopsin. This is the pigment in your eyes which operates in low-light situations and thus allows you to see better in the dark.

If you have a Vitamin A or Retinol deficiency, you will develop nyctalopia or night blindness. Eating a lot of carrots could be a great way to straighten this out, but only to the point of a normal healthy person. Likewise, eating carrots for a normal healthy person would only cause such an infinitesimal gain in night vision.

Where exactly did this “fact” come from?
Is it a rumour made to get kids to eat their vegetables? Or is it a piece of heartfelt public health information?

Well, no. Like many other rumours it was government propaganda. Well, a step up from that actually, as it was wartime government propaganda.

During the early stages of World War II, The Battle of Britain was taking place over the United Kingdom and the Luftwaffe was bombing British cities.

Each night with the cover of darkness came the hum of bomber engines as they crossed the channel, determined to bomb the British into submission.

However, an invention known as Radar was helping the Brits detect the incoming Luftwaffe and scramble their RAF fighters in time for effective intercepts.

Not wanting the Germans to know this, the Air Ministry made a lot of press releases announcing their pilots were eating lots of carrots to help them have exceptional night vision. It was so successful that not only did they fool the German High Command, but they also managed to fool the British people and that’s where the old wives tale comes from.
Above words and picture taken from here

Talking about carrots, as one of the most well-known root vegetables, carrots top the charts as one of the most nutritious. They’re brimming with vitamins A and K, as well as the important antioxidant beta-carotene. What’s more, eating carotenoids may protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss. Carrots make a great snack when eaten raw or dipped in hummus, but they can also be cooked and used in stir-fries, stews or side dishes.

Have you tried Red Roasted Carrots
see details here


You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

37 comments:

peppylady (Dora) said...

I want to try roast carrots.
Coffee is on and stay safe

J.P. Alexander said...

No sabía acerca de la propagan utilizada de las zahorias. Es una de mis legumbres favoritas aunque a mi me gusta mas comerla cruda. Gracias por la receta la haré pronto. Te mando un beso

Carola Bartz said...

We love roasted carrots - they're delicious and so easy to make. I also enjoy eating raw carrots, yes with hummus, just as you say. Delicious!

Tom said...

...I've never seen a rabbit wearing glasses!

Lorrie said...

Roasted carrots are so delicious. We love them. We also like them grated into a green salad, or a grated carrot salad with chives. That's an interesting story about how the saying that carrots are good for your eyesight came about.

Practical Parsimony said...

I love cooked carrots! I fooled my kids with that information, too. But. I believed it!

babYpose said...

Roasted carrots looks good. Will make some soon. Thank you.

Elephant's Child said...

What a fascinating source of this familiar saying. Thank you.

Linda said...

Very interesting! I like carrots.

Margaret D said...

Interesting read Jan. Love Carrots

Valerie-Jael said...

Whatever, I love carrots and other root veggies, and love them roasted in the oven, yummy! Have a great day, Valerie

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

I do love carrots, this recipe looks yummy!
Have a great day and a happy new week!

Jo said...

I really didn't know that it had come from government propaganda. Carrots are a firm favourite here.

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Muito interessante as qualidades das cenouras.
Um abraço e bom Domingo.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados

Bob Bushell said...

carrots are best, and at helped to see in dark, maybe. Thanks Jan.

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Jan,
What a funny picture with the Carrots. Fantastic.
And you have made a lovely meal.

Greetings, Marco

CJ Kennedy said...

Fun and interesting factoid!

Sami said...

Roasted carrots are delicious.
I was brought up with "eat carrots as they will make you see better" :)
Happy Sunday

DVArtist said...

Great article. We eat lots of carrots here and I will try your recipe.

happyone said...

Love carrots, raw or cooked.

Laura. M said...

Me gusta la zanahoria, la utilizo en mis guisos.Gracias por la receta.
Buen domingo para Todos.
Un abrazo.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Actually, I learned in school that the British pilots sat in red light because their eyes easily adapted to low light nighttime conditions that way. I enjoyed reading that it was a propaganda mission that actually worked. I'll gladly take some of those roasted carrots, too!

Maria Rodrigues said...

Interesting and enlightening post.
I love carrots and they are used a lot in my diet.
Thanks for sharing
Hugs and all the best for you

DUTA said...

There's something about their sweetness that puts me away,and I know I'm wrong. I should be eating carrots more often, especially as they're considered beneficial to
eyesight.

CraveCute said...

We love roasted carrots, and reading the recipe I think it would be a nice addition to spice up a meal now and then! Thank you!

My name is Erika. said...

What a fascinating story about where the "myth" of good eyesight from eating carrots comes from. Even here in the states we are always told the same thing. Not that I needed much arm twisting. Carrots are one of my favorites. Happy new week. Erika

Lori Miller said...

An old sailor trick is to look just to the left or right of what you're trying to see in the dark.

William Kendall said...

I like carrots. My mother would boil them and serve them with butter and nutmeg.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This was an interesting story about how carrots became known for good vision! My mother was one who believed that legend and she always made me eat a carrot every day because I wore glasses for nearsightedness since I was 6. She always hoped the carrots would "cure" me.

Sandra Cox said...

Oh my gosh. I hadn't heard that about the war rumors. Fascinating.

Jeanie said...

Even if they don't help THAT much, I love carrots -- raw and roasted! Yum!

Mary Kirkland said...

I love roasted carrots.

Rose said...

I love raw carrots. What is strange is when I broke my leg in 2018, I craved carrots. Raw carrots.

Phil Slade said...

Carrots are so cheap too. A bagful for less than a £ and great addition to many a meal, especially a pot roast of brisket.

Debbie said...

i just harvested the carrots in my garden. they taste incredible, i roasted them with s & p and olive oil!!

Conniecrafter said...

So interesting how the carrots are good for your eyes came about, I do enjoy snacking on raw carrots :)

Teresa said...

Muy interesante lo que nos cuentas. En casa comemos bastantes zanahorias, asadas no las he comido nunca... las probaré. Besos.