Dark Leafy Greens and Eye Health

Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses? No… right? The obvious reason being they are Rabbits however their diet consists of carrots which we have all heard over the years “Eat your Carrots, they’re good for your eyes” and…now… dark-leafy greens as well…

Iowa State University recently wrote this article “Can Dark Green Leafy Vegetables Save Your Eyesight? They state that dark green leafy vegetables are rich in the antioxidant lutein, which has been claimed to help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Beside Lutein, Vitamins A, C, E the three most important vitamins for eye health.

Vitamin A is known to help night blindness. It has been reported to prevent cataracts from forming and may have a role in preventing blindness from macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the world. One cup of Spinach gives you 120% of your daily Vitamin A requirement.

Vitamin C has antioxidant qualities to help prevent crystallization and accumulation of foreign molecules that result in the blurred vision of cataracts. One cup of Kale gives you 70% of your daily Vitamin C requirement.

Vitamin E is the third antioxidant in the trio. Like vitamins A and C, vitamin E also helps prevent cataracts, and macular degeneration. The best sources of Vitamin E can be found in nuts and seeds. Dark leafy greens also contain Vitamin E but to make sure you get enough for proper eye health why not add Walnuts to your spinach salad.

Want more dark leafy greens in your diet, check out the Cookin’ Greens web site(www.cookingreens.com) for some delicious recipes like Herb Tortellini with Spinach, Turkey Sausage & Feta and Turkey Meatloaf with Kale.

Links/Sources
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2010/mar/120301.htm
http://www.cnib.ca/en/about/Default.aspx

Natalie
The Cookin Greens Team