FOOD FOR THE EYES

Food for the Eyes

High dosages of certain vitamins may help stave off the advance of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), according to a National Eye Institute study. The study found that those with a high risk of developing the advanced stage of AMD were benefited by high doses of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc. This, reportedly, is the first treatment to effectively slow the progression of AMD. Most people living in the United States do not eat the USDA-recommended five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and neither do they eat good sources of vitamin E each day, reports the American Optometric Association. Sources of vitamin C include papaya, cantaloupe, oranges, green peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli. Sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, and wheat germ.

For more information, visit two American
Optometrist Organization Web sites:
www.aoa.org/x4729.xml?prt and www.aoa.org/
x4732.xml?prt

Lifeglow September - October 2008: Vol. 25, No. 5