In This Issue: Of Special Interest... Food for Your Eyes 1 Welcome Helmet Head Club Members 2 Harry Helmet® 3 Fare Well in Hail 4

Nutritionists have long preached that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits may help lower blood pressure and reduce the risks of some cancers, heart disease, and stroke. Now there is mounting evidence that vegetables-especially leafy greens- are good for eyes as well. This is because greens contain substantial amounts of cartenoids, compounds that help keep cells healthy, including those in the eye.

Dozens of different kinds of arytenoids exist in foods, including the well-publicized beta-carotene. But greens such as collards, kale, spinach, and parsley, as well as broccoli, green beans, and peas are particularly good sources of arytenoids called lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds are also found in certain yellow and orange vegetables and fruits. Vegetables typically contain much higher levels of lutein than zeaxanthin, while in fruits the amounts are similar.

Lutein and zeaxanthin impart special protection to the eye. They are concentrated in the eye's macula, a pinhead-size area in the middle of the retina, where they appear to help guard against "Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)." Although probably not as familiar as cataracts to most people, AMD is far more serious, being the leading cause of blindness in older Americans.

The macula is made up of millions of light-sensing cells that provide the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and seeing small objects directly in front of you. In the macula, lutein and zeaxanthin block out harmful ultraviolet light rays that can injure the sensitive cells of the retina, a paper-thin tissue lining the back of the eye. If the retina sustains continuous damage over time, vision gradually deteriorates.

Research suggests that a diet rich in leafy greens can help prevent damage to the retina and keeps eyes healthy. Participants in a national study who ate greens such as spinach or collards 2-4 times a week were half as likely to develop AMD as those who ate these foods less than once a month. Researchers suspect that the positive results were due to the presence of lutein and zeaxanthin in the greens. Although dietary supplements containing lutein are already being sold, some experts advise against taking them until further studies are done.

In addition to a diet lacking in lutein and zeaxanthin, other AMD risk factors include:

• Gender - Women tend to be at a greater risk for AMD than men.
• Race - Whites are much more likely to lose vision from AMD than Blacks.
• Smoking - Smoking may increase the risk of AMD.
• Family History - Those with immediate family members who have AMD are at a higher risk of developing the disease.

To learn more about AMD, contact the National Eye Institute, Health Education Program, 2020 Vision Place, Bethesda, MD 20892. Or visit them on the web at: www.nei.nih.gov