Avocados have the highest quantity of the carotenoid lutein of any fruit. Lutein protects against macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness, and cataracts. If you aren't currently including avocados in your diet, it would be a good idea to do so.
My late husband died from COPD and some dementia. So, I was always reading information about the brain and/or cognitive decline. A study at the University of Illinois, last year I believe, suggested that the nutrient lutein may help slow down cognitive decline. What a tasty way to help slow this problem! Lutein is found in green leafy vegetables, avocados and eggs. Why not add a few more of these tasty foods to your diet? It just might keep your mind sharp!
Leafy greens are so good for us, but many people refuse to eat them. There are many ways to incorporate them into your diet and here's another good reason to do so. Leafy greens are good for eye health. Too often we neglect to think about eye health until we experience a problem. Our eyes need to be healthy as almost everything we do involves our eyes. Leafy greens such as turnip greens, spinach, and kale are rich in lutein. Lutein is an antioxidant that is thought to protect eye tissue from sun damage and reduce our risk for age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in older persons. Studies have shown that as little as 6mg of lutein per day lowers one's risk of macular degeneration. If you do not like to eat leafy greens consider adding spinach leaves to sandwiches, adding greens to smoothies, soups, casseroles, etc. However, you choose to use them, just make sure to include them in your diet regularly.
Basically, the answer is no. Would you believe your body needs the fat in the regular dressing to help it absorb some of the nutrients in the salad veggies. The fat helps the body absorb some important nutrients such as lycopene, lutein, beta carotene. Using the regular dressing can help you double the nutrients your body absorbs. Just keep an eye on the amount of calories you are getting. This information is from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
As it does with every other part of your body, your diet affects your eyes. Everything we put in our mouths affects the body whether for the good or for the bad. Below is a list of foods that are good for your eyes.
