Move over DHA, there’s a new kid in town. Lutein is a carotenoid found naturally in the brain and eyes of everyone from infants to the elderly. “It’s like sunscreen for the eyes,” says Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD, author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous! This important powerhouse enters the body only through diet or supplementation so it’s important for expectant and breastfeeding moms to make an effort to meet their quota daily.
To ensure you’re getting enough lutein for your brewing babe, try adding these nutritious (and delicious!) finds to your table:
• collard greens
• kale
• spinach
• kiwi
• eggs
• peas
• corn
• broccoli
• papaya
• oranges
Here are a few recipes to help you start loading up on lutein:
Spinach Frittata (from Simply Recipes)
image via simplyrecipes.com
Garlicky Greens (from 101 Cookbooks)
image via 101cookbooks.com
Black Bean, Orange and Corn Quinoa Salad (from Little Yellow Kitchen)
image via Little Yellow Kitchen
