(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It turns out following mom's advice to eat your vegetables could prevent a leading cause of blindness.
Age-related macular degeneration causes vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. It affects the macula -- the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. Several studies have suggested high concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin -- dietary compounds -- have properties that can prevent macular degeneration.
These nutrients are not made by the body and can only enter the bloodstream through one's diet. They are commonly found in green, leafy vegetables, like spinach, broccoli, zucchini and kale, and in yellow or orange fruits and vegetables, like carrots, papaya, squash and peaches.
Previous studies found lutein and zeaxanthin filter out damaging blue light and are powerful antioxidants, which could explain why they may protect against macular degeneration.
SOURCE: The Journal of Lipid Research, 2008; August
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