Effective Ways to Prevent Age Related Macular Degeneration

kaleLutein – the antioxidant found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale – has been proven to reduce our risk of developing the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD is the most common cause of deteriorating eyesight in the over 50s, and it’s a problem that can accelerate quickly among cigarette smokers.

Macular Degeneration causes vision loss in more than one third of adults over the age of 50! As you age, you are increasingly at risk to develop Macular Degeneration. It is the leading cause of blind spots to the central vision, which is the area uses for reading and recognizing faces and details.

Researchers have been split over the effectiveness of the antioxidants – including vitamins A, C, E, zinc and beta-carotene –  in preventing, or slowing, AMD.Here is a link to the Landmark Study on Lutein.

But a new study has confirmed that lutein is the most effective antioxidant after studying the progress of a group of 4,519 participants aged between 60 and 80.  Most of the group’s lutein intake was from food rather than from supplements.

The single greatest source of lutein is from raw kale, followed by cooked kale, cooked spinach, cooked collards or cabbage.

(Source: Archives of Ophthalmology, 2007; 125: 1225-1232).

Editor’s Note: For those who find it hard to get enough lutein in their diet Shaklee Corporation makes an excellent supplent called CarotoMax. This is a blend  of alpha-carotene, astaxanthin, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin delivering of a broad spectrum of carotenoids.

Ty-Green Smoothie-Kale-Lutein-AMDFor those of you who are looking for a good way to eat raw kale you might try the following Kale Smoothie. We love this refreshing drink and it is a great way to get your greens. My grandson Ty even like it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups firmly-packed fresh kale (make sure you remove the kale leaf from the main stem.
  • 1 cup frozen unsweetened pineapple chunks
  • 1-1/2 cups rice milk or you can use vanilla yogurt (We like Cascade brand because it uses cane sugar and half the sweetener of most yogurts
  • 1 frozen banana
  • You can either add 1 cup of Quiona cooked . Quiona is a high protein grain that is simple to cook or use Shaklee’s raw NON GMO Energizing Protein

Preparation:

  1. Place kale in a Vita Mix  or regular blender.
  2. Add remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth.

Makes 2 servings

Other helpful supplements for healthy eyes

  • Vitamins and minerals – very high doses of vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene (particularly the  Zeazanthin and Lutein of the carotenoids) can help slow down AMD progression. The same was found with zinc and copper. Experts say people who are considered to be at high risk of developing AMD should take these supplements. Even though these vitamins and minerals can be bought without a doctor’s prescription, patients should discuss taking them with their doctor first. A study carried out by the National Eye Institute reported that high doses of antioxidants slow the progression of AMD or may even prevent it altogether.
  • Omega-3 fatty acidsA meta-analysis published in the June issue of Archives of Ophthalmology found that consumption of foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and flax, is linked to a reduction in the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

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