(http://www.PreserveMacForte.com) If you grew up hearing your parents tell you to eat your fruits and vegetables, know for certain that it really was for your own good, according to a report on the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s website.
While you might have accused Ma and Pa of getting on your case about produce and the like, the truth of the matter is that they were…as they usually are…right.
You might not appreciate it when you’re young, but you’ll sure be glad you listened to them when you get older. As it turns out, fruits and vegetables can help you to avoid getting age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading case of vision impairment and, in its later stages, can rob you of the ability to drive a car, read a book, watch television and even recognize the faces of friends and family.
What is it about fruits and vegetables that can safeguard your eye health, you ask? It’s quite simple, really. Whether you like your produce raw or cooked, they have carotenoids, which is essential for promoting optimal vision health.
According to the article, your retina is largely made up of zeaxanthin and lutein. Your body is able to absorb these two carotenoids from the produce you eat. So you really do need to make liberal use of fruits and vegetables, and with the wide variety of produce available you shouldn’t have difficulty finding stuff you really enjoy eating. And even if you would rather eat a handful of sand than chow down on fruits and vegetables, remember that you can ward off AMD by simply eating produce regularly.
Here are some suggestions for the sort of vegetables that you should try to get on your shopping list: spinach, kale, lettuce, collards, broccoli and peas.
AMD is no laughing matter as it happens to be the leading cause of vision impairment in the country. While there’s no way to completely guarantee that you won’t get the ailment, there are ways to greatly lessen the odds. And eating fruits and vegetables regularly is one such way.
Reference: http://www.gdabvi.org/fruits-and-vegetables-decrease-risk-of-macular-degeneration/