Key Nutrient Protects Your Eyesight
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 60.
Long before you go completely blind, problems in your central vision will impact your ability to read, drive, cook, garden—and to clearly see the faces of the people you love so dearly.
That means that this disease robs you of your independence long before it officially robs you of your sight.
Fortunately, there are foods and nutrients that have been specifically shown to keep your eyesight sharp.
Let me show you how you can eat your way to better eyes.
When it comes to plant nutrients, it’s hard to beat carotenoids. These are the pigments that give the bright orange, yellow, and red colors to foods like papaya, pumpkins, and red peppers.
And they’re especially good for your eyes.
Beta-carotene is a specific carotenoid that your body uses to make vitamin A, which is critical for vision.
And two other carotenoids—lutein and zeaxanthin—are antioxidants that help protect your eyes from damaging UV rays.
In one study, people who had the highest blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were 40 percent less likely to develop advanced age-related macular degeneration.
Other types of carotenoids lowered the risk by about 25-35 percent.
Another study found that taking a cocktail of eye-protective nutrients (including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, and copper) reduced the risk of advanced AMD by 30 percent.
At this point, AMD is irreversible.
So reducing the risk of advanced AMD means adding more time of clear vision—and independence.
To get more carotenoids in your diet, be sure to eat plenty of dark leafy greens, squash, pumpkin, carrots, papayas, and red peppers.
And to get the most absorption, eat these vegetables chopped, pureed, or cooked.
