Spinach, Collard Greens, and Less
Blindness
One
path to better long term visual health may be paved with spinach and collard
greens. This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis,
Speaking of Health. You’ve been told to
eat carrots because they’re good for your eyes?
Actually, a
The
disease is called age-related macular degeneration, and it’s a leading cause of
blindness in adults. In research
published in the Journal of the AMA investigators
from 5 cities found that patients with very high intakes of carotenoids had a
43% lower risk of macular degeneration than those who had the lowest intake of
carotenoids. The strongest association
among the various carotenoids were those obtained from dark green, leafy vegetables,
particularly spinach and collard greens.
While a protective effect of carotenoids was noted, vitamin supplements,
as a group, did not appear to reduce the risk of age-related macular
degeneration although, notes the research team, “a small benefit cannot be
ruled out for vitamin C and multivitamins.”
They do say, however, that “the segment of the population older than age
65” is our fastest growing, and so the prevalence and impact of this eye
disease will continue to increase.
Identifying eye disease will continue to increase. Identifying strategies, like dietary
approaches could help prevent or retard the onset of this visual disorder which
can cause blindness or decreased vision among the elderly.
For a copy of
this script, access our web site, speakingofhealth.com. Speaking of Health, I’m Dr. Steven Andrew
Davis for CBS News.