Guest guest Posted July 25, 1998 Report Share Posted July 25, 1998 Greetings: Here is a snippet of information on eyes and spinach. Peace D. Eye Saver Spinach Blindness among the elderly may be preventable by eating more spinach, not carrots according to a new study. Macular degeneration generally hits people in their sixties. It begins when the macula-part of the retina thins as cells die. Vision worsens as blood vessels in that area begin to leak. Untreated, this can result in blindness within a few weeks. Scientists have speculated that the damage might be the handiwork of oxygen molecules called free radicals and that anti-oxidants in the greens, which collar free radicals before they can do harm, could help. Ophthalmologist Johanna Seddon at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, with the help of researchers at five other major eye centers, tested this theory by asking 876 patients, 326 of whom suffered from macular degeneration, to fill out a detailed questionnaire on what they regularly ate. Seddon found that people who ate antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables at least five times a week had about half the risk compared to those who avoided these foods. When she looked at the foods that were most responsible for the protective effect, spinach and colored greens stood out. Interestingly, taking antioxidant vitamin pills such as A & E gave subjects no advantage. What supplied boost in the leafy greens were two antioxidants, Lutein and Zeaxanthin. The eye contains both nutrients and they seem to help block out blue light, which damages the retina. Eating spinach more than once a week was enough to lower the risk and the effect got stronger as the subjects ate more, Seddon inferred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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