Health Tip: Save Your Vision Month

March is Save Your Vision Month. This month’s health tip is supplied by the American Optometric Association. For more information from the AOA, visit http://www.aoa.org/x11858.xml. Visit The Eye Care Institute at NSU to have your vision checked.

— Robert S. Oller, D.O., Chief Executive Officer, NSU’s Division of Clinical Operation

Open Your Eyes to Health Eating Habits

In honor of March’s Save Your Vision Month, American Optometric Association (AOA) reminds Americans that caring for eyes includes paying attention to nutrition.

Approximately 43 million Americans suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or cataracts, the two leading causes of vision loss and blindness. Based on research from multiple studies, there is a strong correlation between good nutrition and the prevention of these age-related eye diseases. By eating foods rich in six nutrients-antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, essential fatty acids, vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc-you can help protect your eye sight and vision.

Research shows that 30 million (or one out of four) Americans age 40 and older suffer from some level of vision loss. According to the AOA’s 2008 American Eye-Q® survey, which assesses public knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues related to eye and visual health, only 29 percent of Americans are coping with vision loss or other eye problems by increasing nutrient for healthy eyes.

“Basic and clinical research has shown that nutrients in eye-health foods can slow vision loss,” said Dr. Janet Leasher, local optometrist and member of the AOA. “Indeed, in some cases, these foods can even improve vision, while providing additional health benefits to the patient.”

Health Fruits and Vegetable

The AOA recommends eating a diet with a variety of foods loaded with key nutrients for maintaining and improving eye health, such as lutein (LOO-tein) and zeaxanthin.

The American Eye-Q® survey showed that nearly half of all Americans (48 percent) still believe carrots are the best food for eye health. While carrots do contain nutritional value by supplying the provitamin A beta-carotene which is essential for night vision, spinach and other dark, leafy greens prove to be the healthiest foods for eyes because they naturally contain large amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin.

The following foods contain key nutrients for eye health:

• Lutein and zeaxanthin: Colorful fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, green beans, peas, oranges and tangerines
• Essential fatty acids: Fleshy fish like tuna, salmon, or herring, whole grain foods, lean meats and eggs
• Vitamin C: Fruits and vegetables, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers and tomatoes.
• Vitamin E: Fruits: Vegetable oils, such as safflower or corn oil, almonds, pecans, sweet potatoes, and sunflower seeds.
• Zinc: Red meat, poultry, liver, shellfish, milk, baked beans, and whole grains.

“Nutrition is a component of health for the entire body, including the eyes, “adds Dr. Janet Leasher. “ I suggest incorporating nutritious ingredients into daily menus. There are some great, quick and simple recipes that promote healthy eye sight and vision.”

One example of a quick and easy eye-health recipe includes:

Whole-Wheat Penne with Spinach and Gorgonzola

Ingredients:

10oz. uncooked whole-wheat penne pasta
Olive oil cooking spray
1 ½ cup yellow onion, diced (~1 medium onion)
3 large garlic cloves, minced
½ cup chicken broth
3 Roma tomatoes, chopped (~2 cups)
1 (6oz.) bag fresh baby spinach
1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste
2/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese ( or substitute ½ cup low-fat freshly-grated parmesan cheese)
1/3 cup pine nuts (optional)

Directions:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, without salting water.
• While pasta is cooking, spray a large, non-stick frying pan with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add onions, then stir and cook until slightly transparent, approximately 5 minutes. Add garlic, stir and cook for another minute. Add broth and let simmer for 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, toss and simmer for 2 minutes. Add spinach and basil, cook and stir for approximately 2 minutes, or until leaves wilt. Remove from heat and add salt/pepper to taste.
• Drain pasta and add to spinach mixture. Thoroughly toss. Serve on a platter and top with gorgonzola (or parmesan) cheese and pine nuts. Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional information (per serving): 300 Calories; 25% fat (8.3 g total, 2.8 g saturated), 57% carbohydrate (43 g), 18% protein (13.5 g), mg cholesterol, 8.6 g fiber, 27 mg vitamin C, 1.33 mg vitamin E, 20.4 mg lutein/zeaxathin, 271 mg sodium.

Did You Know?

• Eating spinach can reduce your risk of getting certain eye diseases like AMD because it contains a large amount of lutein, an important eye nutrient. In order to maintain healthy eyes, add 10 mg of lutein to your diet each day or eat one cup of cooked spinach four times a week.
• More than 50% of Americans do not take in the recommended dosage of Vitamin C per day. Vitamin C has been linked, in approved amounts, to minimize or reduce the risk of cataracts and AMD.
• One cup (8 fl oz.) of orange juice per day contains 81.6 mg/serving of Vitamin C, more than enough to help offset some eye diseases.

* Recipe courtesy of Elizabeth Somer, MA, Registered Dietician