For Your Health: Vision Vitamins

One more reason to eat your vegetables is that it may decrease your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), a leading cause of blindness after age 50. ARMD sufferers have night blindness, or impaired ability to see in the dark, as well as a limited range of visual acuity. Vitamin A, which is derived from carotenoids, has been known for decades to reduce night blindness. But the link between ARMD and carotenoids has only recently been identified by five ophthalmology centers throughout the country. Among nearly 900 people studied, those with the highest intake of carotenoid-rich vegetables had a 43 percent lower risk of developing ARMD than those with the lowest intake. In particular, a higher intake of spinach or collard greens substantially lowered the risk. Foods rich in vitamin C appeared to have a small effect as well. Vitamin supplements did not seem to help much. The researchers suggest protecting your vision with one-to-two daily servings of leafy green vegetables, or other carotenoid-rich vegetables, such as carrots, and adding a vitamin C-rich fruit as a precautionary measure.