The Holistic Health Nut 

The advice to eat carrots for good eyesight is one many of us heard throughout childhood. Though simple, this advice is actually grounded in science. Carrots contain the fat soluble nutrient vitamin A, which has long been implicated in maintenance of ocular (eye) health. However, it does so much more!

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble micronutrient that serves as a cofactor (think of it as an assistant) to the enzymes responsible for producing the proteins that enable blood clotting (hemostasis) and bone mineralization. Without it, your blood cannot clot properly and your bones cannot retain their density and strength over time.

Potassium is an essential mineral and electrolyte required for a wide range of biological processes. It plays a central role in maintaining heart rhythm, cellular fluid balance, skeletal muscle contraction, nerve signal transmission, and blood pressure regulation.

Choline may not be a headline nutrient, but its impact on health is far too important to overlook. Especially as emerging research continues to reveal just how deeply it shapes our physiology.

Now, if you’ve been paying attention to the state of public health over the past few years, or even the past few months, it’s hard not to feel frustrated by the sheer hypocrisy and hollowness of these statements. My issue with this kind of messaging is simple: talk of “real food” or professed “concern” for the nation’s health means very little when the structural barriers that prevent millions of people from accessing affordable, nutrient‑dense foods remain unaddressed.

The fact remains that we cannot isolate environmental circumstances or social infrastructure from health outcomes as they are inextricably linked. This link should be a public health priority and the first line of defense when we seek to address health, as it holds the keys to transforming health in scalable and sustainable measures. What would our food systems look like if they were designed for dignity, not just convenience?

A consistent intake of omega-3s, whether through diet or supplementation, is a practical and evidence-based approach to supporting cognitive, cardiovascular and visual health over time.

Dietary fiber is the edible part of plants that our bodies can’t digest. While it might seem counterintuitive to celebrate something we don’t absorb, fiber plays a vital role in our health.

The next time you think about tossing your carrot greens, kindly stop yourself and make this carrot greens chimichurri instead!

Carrot greens are a good source of vitamin A, E, K, C, and fiber! So the next time you buy carrots, don't toss the greens, make this salad!