Vitamins in Fruits May Prevent Age Related Macular Degeneration

A recently released pair of studies showed that to reduce your risk of age related macular degeneration, diet may be key.  Vitamins and antioxidants found in blueberries, may reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration.  In the second study, strawberries, also high in antioxidants, were shown to be readily absorbed by the body.

I’ve mentioned before that I try to start many of my mornings off with a frozen fruit smoothie.  I believe it provides an array of health benefits by packing my morning with an antioxidant-loaded punch of blueberries, and I just like the taste of the strawberries.  The two studies below indicate there may be even more benefit than I thought.

Photo Credit Basykes

Many of us have probably read about the expected benefits of a diet high in fruit.  Blueberries are often touted as being loaded with antioxidants, and researchers believe these compounds may help prevent cancer, among other benefits.  There, of course, a wide variety of other benefits that are not often discussed.  Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the aging population, and is the leading cause of age-related blindness in developed countries.  In the United States alone, approximately 1.75 million people suffer from the condition.

The second study of strawberry consumption, also high in antioxidants, showed that the human body did not appear to have an upper “threshold” for antioxidant absorption.  Meaning that, unlike vitamin C for example, which the body excretes once a maximum level is consumed, the more antioxidant-rich foods you consume, the more antioxidants the body would absorb.  My take on this would be to eat as much as you can, since the body will continue to absorb and utilize these beneficial compounds.

How Diet, Antioxidants Prevent Blindness In Aging Population

ScienceDaily (2008-08-27) — A new study reveals part of the magic behind a diet rich in antioxidants, showing how artichokes, blueberries and pecans can hold at bay the leading cause of age-related blindness in developed countries. … > read full article

More Strawberries, More Antioxidant Absorption

ScienceDaily (2008-08-26) — Scientists have assessed the human body’s capacity for absorbing certain antioxidant compounds in strawberries, and have found that the absorption of one key beneficial plant chemical was not “maxed out” as volunteers ate more of this popular fruit. Foods high in antioxidants may be excellent sources of healthful compounds, and researchers are striving to learn more about their ability to be absorbed and utilized within the human body. … > read full article