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What is Lutein?
Lutein (LOO-teen) is a carotenoid found in vegetables and fruits. Lutein acts as an antioxidant,
protecting cells against the damaging effects of free radicals.
Are You Getting Enough Lutein?
Persons who ate large amounts of fruits and vegetables had a 43 percent reduced risk of age-related
macular degeneration. Chances are you're not getting the lutein you need.
Americans simply don't eat enough vegetables rich in carotenoids like lutein. Lutein is easy to add to your diet if you eat plenty of spinach and other green, leafy vegetables. These foods
provide high levels of lutein every time you eat a spinach salad or a serving of kale or turnip greens.
What is Age-related Macular Degeneration?
Imagine being unable to tell what time it is. Imagine being unable to recognize a loved one's face.
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible
blindness among Americans age 65 and older.Prevent Blindness America estimates that
13 million people in this country have evidence of AMD.
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Antioxidants
Good Sources of Antioxidant Vitamins
| Vitamin
C |
Mg. |
Broccoli,
fresh, boiled, 1 cup
Orange juice, fresh, 8 oz.
Cantaloup, 1/2
Cranberry juice, 8 oz.
Brussels sprouts, fresh, boiled, 1 cup |
116
113
113
97
97 |
| Beta-Carotene |
Mg. |
Sweet potatoes, boiled,
mashed, 1cup
Pumpkin, canned, 1 cup
Carrots, raw, 1
Spinach, frozen, boiled, 1 cup
Butternut squash, baked, 1 cup |
34
32
12
10
9 |
| Vitamin
E (as alpha-tocopheral) |
Mg. |
Sunflower seeds, dried, 1/4 cup
Sweet potatoes, boiled, mashed, 1 cup
Kale, fresh, boiled, 1 cup
Spinach, frozen, boiled, 1 cup
Yams, boiled or baked, 1 cup |
18
15
10
4
6 |
Samples of Natural Antioxidants
Eat Right
What
does this mean for us, now? For one thing, the possibility that antioxidant
vitamins might prevent heart disease doesn't give us a license to consume
mass quantities of fat-laden foods. "Lowering
blood-cholesterol
levels is still the primary and only proven way to reduce risk of
[heart disease], " Dr. Steinberg says. "So far, we know only that antioxidants
work in experimental animals, and that's not a basis for telling everybody
what foods to buy and what to eat." If the theory turns out to be a fact,
keeping the fat out of our diet may leave fewer LDL particles for the free
radicals to prey on. "It would be a great tragedy if people started eating
carrots and green, leafy vegetables and continued to smoke or eat high-fat
foods". The experts say the best prescription right now is to make sure
you eat enough foods containing vitamins C, E and beta-carotene which means
fruits and vegetable. |
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