Last Updated on September 25, 2021 by Team THIP
Quick Take
A number of social media posts and health blogs claim that eating Spinach can improve eyesight. We fact-check and found the claims mostly false.
The Claim
A popular misconception, the claim about Spinach improving eyesight is available across the internet. Few such posts can be seen here, here, and here.
Fact Check
Is Spinach good for eye health?
Yes. Spinach is loaded with Vitamins and minerals that can be very helpful in maintaining eye health and to some extent protecting them from damages.
Observational research has shown that diet can play a role in delaying cataracts in humans. Spinach is loaded with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Sodium, and Iron. Vitamin A is related to the prevention of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). However, diseases like AMD are dependent on multiple factors including genetic predisposition, aging, and high oxidative stress, and diet alone may not be always able to prevent the disease.
Can Spinach improve eyesight?
No. Spinach cannot improve eyesight. They can only maintain good eye health and to some extent prevent further damages. But, if eyesight has been damaged for some reason, Spinach cannot reverse that.
We have fact-checked similar claims made about butter and fennel earlier.
Dr. Naveen Gupta, DNB (Opthalmology) says, “There is a difference between ‘good for eye health’ and ‘can improve vision’. Most people confuse between the two. If you think that eating spinach can reduce your eye glass numbers, then that won’t happen.”
Eye Surgeon Dr. Aftab Alam, MBBS, DO (Ophthalmology) agrees, “Maintaining eye health is not equal to improving eye vision. Most plant-based diets are good for maintaining eye health. But that doesn’t mean they will improve vision. There is no scientific evidence to such claims.”
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