Hi Folks,

This came from last week’s email broadcast.

The research says that antioxidants reduce your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Specific antioxidants can have additional benefits:

Vitamin A protects against blindness.

Vitamin C may play a role in preventing or alleviating glaucoma.

As many of you know (because I often recommend it!), essential fatty acids appear to help the eye in a variety of ways, from dry eye relief to guarding against macular damage. Not to mention that most people report softer skin and thicker hair/nails.

These foods pretty much guarantee you get enough eye-protecting nutrients:

* Vitamin A: cod liver oil, liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash.
* Lutein and zeaxanthin: spinach, kale, collard greens.
* Vitamin C: sweet peppers (red or green), kale, strawberries, broccoli, oranges, cantaloupe.
* Bioflavonoids: citrus fruits, cherries, grapes, plums.
* Vitamin E: sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts.
* Selenium: brazil nuts, yeast, seafood.
* Zinc: oysters, hamburgers, wheat, nuts.
* Fatty acids: cold-water fish (salmon, mackerel, trout, and sardines – yum!!).

In general, you should eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables, two servings of fish per week, some nuts and some yellow or orange fruits and vegetables.

Oh, and the ‘Carb’ thing?

In 2007, study findings suggested that eating too many “bad carbs” such as refined white flour may increase your risk of developing macular degeneration. The idea is that blood sugar spikes caused by such high-glycemic-index-carbs could negatively affect the eyes.

Researchers suggested that people instead consume healthier carbs, such as whole grains, high-fiber fruits and vegetables.

So there you go…

Best regards,

Dr. Lewis