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The Two Superfoods That Stop Blindness

Lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients found in eggs, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables may protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness among the elderly.

The study involved 4,519 people aged 60 to 80 who were questioned about their dietary habits for a period of six years.

Participants who ate the most foods containing lutein and zeaxanthin (those in the top fifth) had a 35 percent lower risk of developing AMD than those who ate the least (in the bottom fifth).

The nutrients may protect against the condition by helping your eyes to filter dangerous short-wavelength light, and warding off other potentially damaging effects to the center of your eye’s retina (the macula).

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids, which are responsible for the yellow color in many fruits and vegetables.

Over 1 million Americans, particularly those older than 65, have AMD.

Archives of Ophthalmology September 2007, Vol. 125 No. 9 

Reuters September 10, 2007



Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central region of your retina, the macula lutea -- the area at which visual acuity is the greatest. Your macula is a small area just two millimeters wide, located in the back of your eye, in the middle portion of your retina.

For reasons scientists have yet to pinpoint, parts of your retina and macula become diseased. As AMD progresses, tiny, fragile blood vessels that leak blood and fluid begin to develop in your retina, causing further damage.

However, there is pigment in your macula that seems to act as a blue-light filter to protect your macular region against oxidation by light. In addition, this macular pigment can scavenge free radicals.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the predominant pigments in this area, and numerous studies have found that consuming foods rich in these nutrients can significantly reduce your risk of AMD (and non-Hodgkin lymphoma).

How to Get Plenty of Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Your Diet

Foods considered good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin include:
  • Eggs
  • Leafy greens like spinach, kale, turnip greens, collard greens, and romaine lettuce
  • Broccoli
  • Zucchini
  • Garden peas and Brussels sprouts
The MOST Important Rule in Eating These Foods

You might have guessed it if you have been reading this newsletter for awhile, but the absolute key to making sure you receive the benefits of the nutrients in these foods is to make sure you consume them RAW. Once you heat spinach or eggs the lutein and zeaxanthin become damaged -- and they will not perform as well in preventing degeneration of your macula.

Additionally, the accessory micronutrients in the foods that enhance their action will also be damaged. And last but not least, one of the most important and overlooked elements in raw food, biophotons, will be virtually eliminated, thus destroying much of the vitality of the food.

I was the keynote speaker at a BioEnergy Conference in Orlando  a few weeks ago.

It was one of the best medical conferences I have been to in a long time, and I was really surprised to find that the majority of the speakers were referencing biophotons in their lectures. I believe understanding the physics of biophotons will greatly help advance the science of health.
     
So one of the absolute best ways to take advantage of these powerhouse nutrients is by eating RAW egg yolks. There is about 0.25 mg each of lutein and zeaxanthin in one egg yolk, and it’s in a highly absorbable, nearly ideal, form.

When you eat eggs raw, finding a high-quality source is important, so please read through my past advice on Knowing What to Look for and Where to Find Healthy Eggs to get up to speed.

It is also important to note that lutein is an oil-soluble nutrient, so if you eat the above vegetables without some oil or butter your body can't absorb the lutein. Adding a little bit of fat (olive oil, coconut oil, or butter, depending on your nutritional type) will maximize your lutein absorption.

While adding foods rich in these beneficial nutrients to your diet is certainly a wise choice, be sure you are only adding the foods that are right for your nutritional type.

Even spinach, which most would consider a “health food,” is not appropriate for everyone.

To get the most bang for your buck when it comes to nutrition, you really need to take into account your individual biochemistry, and then eat the specific foods that make you thrive.


Related Links:



Comment on This Article Community Comments (37)
 
 
Posted On Sep 11, 2007
Nice to see an article in mainstream media where eggs are one of the good guys!:))

 
Reesacat
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 1/2007
Reesacat  
 
 
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
still learning,
what kind of meat besides beef and fish  can you eat raw?   poultry or pork  would not be something i would consider raw eats...

 
moo_203
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
moo_203  
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
Alaskadude says fresh porcupine liver for longevity...


Alaskadude
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 2/2007
Alaskadude  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007
And, Russ, I stand by that...


Pat Ormsby
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Pat Ormsby  
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007

The Japanese eat just about anything raw.  I remember a restaurant in Tokyo specializing in chicken sashimi.  I think the chickens were specially raised for it.  Prosciutto is called "raw ham" here, and it has the translucency of raw meats, though I think it is highly processed and not really raw.  A typical Japanese breakfast includes one raw egg, broken over the rice and mixed in.


 
 
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
A delicious recipe I learned from one of Dr. Perricone's books was lightly sauteeing spinach, olive oil, fresh ginger and Turmeric together with a hint of salt, on top of eggs.  It's healthful and tasty. 

 
samurai
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 4/2007
samurai  
Replied

Reesacat
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 1/2007
Reesacat  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
Yum!  Thank you! 

Wouldn't it be fun to get everyone together and have a big healthy cookout? 


Reesacat
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 1/2007
Reesacat  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
Still.learning, that is a better idea.

I need some grilled grass-fed beef or deer steak, though.

Being from the South "I jest have to have my Barbecue, Honey!"

Does Alaskadude's unpasteurized organic homebrew count as raw?


samurai
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
samurai  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
Indeed, Reesacat!


Patty D
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2007
Patty D  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
I'm learning to like or at least tolerate raw veggies, I'm even using raw eggs, but I HAVE to draw the line at raw meat.  I just can't do it.  When I was in Pharmacy school, they showed us videos of raw beef, chicken and pork....it's too gross to describe here but...needless to say, I have never eaten any meat not well done again.  I'm sure organic/range fed is different, but the video I watched was made in the 60s.


CSR
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 8/2007
CSR  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
PattyD, the same thing happened to me. I was "taught" about raw meat in school and I just can't bring myself to eat it raw.  We do love our slow-cooker though! :-)


A1936John
Novice User Novice User Joined On 9/2007
A1936John  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007
We routinely make spinach and/or arugala omelets.  They really are great - especially with a little Fetta cheese sprinkled on top.


stoic
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 3/2007
stoic  
 
Posted On Sep 14, 2007
Reesacat -The only thing in this world that gives me heartburn is Maurice Bessinger's mustard barbecue, in Columbia, SC (and his brother's place down in Charleston), but I eat as much of it as I can get every time I'm back there. It is the BEST!

 
 
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007

Russ--

Re your comments on agave, I  (and my friends who are using it) would SO appreciate knowing where else we can find this type of information on agave--especially that, no matter the source of it, and whether or not its organic, it's harmful to our bodies.  So far, we've only seen positive comments on the Web.  Thanks.

Laura


 
SavedbyHisGrace
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 2/2007
SavedbyHisGrace  
Replied

SavedbyHisGrace
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 2/2007
SavedbyHisGrace  
 
Posted On Sep 26, 2007

Again, Russ, (in relation to my previous comment/question) I and many others are waiting for some help from you with backup information for your comments on the dangers of agave--this includes a whole forum of people at this link:  www.amazon.com/.../104-3459423-9837566.

You will notice I included your comments, and then see Kim's response asking for reference backup for your statements.  

Thanks for letting us know one way or the other whether you have any backup information for your statements so I can pass it on to the group, and also all my friends here in Charlotte who are using agave at this time.

Thanks, Laura


 
 
 
Posted On Sep 25, 2007

Seems like everybody danced around the obvious choice:  soft-boiled eggs.  Just boil the eggs for 4 minutes and 30 seconds, immediately put under cold water, then peel away the shell and put on whole grain toast buttered with naturally pressed oil butter.  Put on your biophoton salt from Mercola from the Himalayan region some pepper and viola!  The inner yolk is liquid and the outer white egg is lightly cooked but still soft.  That is my typical breakfast or else a natural sunflower seed (no pesticide and alkaline) and homemade seasonal fruit jelly lightly-toasted and buttered sandwich.  Get a good whole food vitamin w/o Iron like Supernutrition to make up the rest.  At night drink a cold cup of reishi mushroom red tea to counteract the acidic food of the day and to put you to sleep.  Any fatty meat during the day counteract with fish oil pills to balance out the fat ratio according to the Omega Plan diet.  Also take Vitamin C pills with food throughout the day as you should either take multiple doses per day or none.


 
Pjmont
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2006
Pjmont  
 
 
 
 
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