monicapink
10-19-02, 01:37 PM
SENIOR SMARTS: LUTEIN THE ANTIOXIDANT WITH BIG BENEFITS
Why are spinach, kale and other greens so good for you? One reason: They are packed with the antioxidant lutein, a yellow pigment (the yellow is covered up by chlorophyll in green leaves)with newly discovered powers to fight disease.
According to Frederick Khachik Ph.D.., senior researcher at the University of Maryland, "We all used to talk about beta-carotene (the orange pigment in carrots) in preventing disease. It's now lutein. Lutein is just as important to health, or more so than beta carotene."
SAVES EYES: Lutein is most often hailed as a possible way to protect eyes from macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older people. A landmark Dutch study of men showed that taking 10 milligrams of lutein daily for three months increased thickness in the eye's center (macula) by 22%, presumably reducing its vulnerability to damage and loss of vision.
Researchers at Harvard found eating 6 mg of lutein a day (approx. 1/4 cup cooked spinach) lowered the offs of macular degeneration by 43%.
Eating sauteed spinach four to seven times a week for three months even reversed some very early signs of the disease, according to a small study conducted by Stuart Richer, Ph.D. at the DVA Medical Center in North Chicago, Ill.
Loading up on lutein also seems to reduce the odds of cataracts by 20 to 50% according to several studies.
DISCOURAGES CANCER: A recent study by Tufts University and Korean investigators revealed a dramatic 88% drop in breast cancer in women who had the highest blood concentrations of lutein.
Researchers at the University of Utah Medical School found that the highest consumers of lutein (a mere 2.4 mg daily) were 17% less likely to develop colon cancer than those who ate the least (300 micrograms). Generally the more lutein consumed, the lower the risk. High lutein also has been linked to fewer lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.
Researchers speculate that lutein switches off carcinogenic activity and boosts immune functioning.
PREVENTS CLOGGED ARTERIES: A University of Southern California processor, James H. Dwyer compared the carotid (neck) arteries of middle aged people. In 18 months, people with the lowest blood lutein had four times the carotid thickening of people with the highest levels (Thickening is a sign of blood vessel clogging throught the body.) PROBABLE REASON: Cells bathed in lutein were less likely to help "bad" LDL cholesterol stick to artery walls.
DELAYS LUNG AGING: People who eat the most lutein have "younger" lungs according to new research at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In fact high lutein shaved one to two years off lung age as indicated by standard lung function tests in 1,616 men and women -- ages 35 to 79 (High Vitamin E intake also boosted breathing capacity). LUTEIN SEEMS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR SMOKERS.
COMBATS ARTHRITIS: Lutein may even help block osteoarthritis pain and disability in 16 million Americans.
Researchers at the National Institute of Health recently discovered that people with the highest blood lutein were about 70% less likely to hae arthritis of the knee.
LUTEIN CAN BE FOUND IN THESE FOOD SOURCES: per 1/2 cup
Kale, cooled -- 10 milligrams
Collard Greens, cooked -- 7.7 milligrams
Spinach, raw -- 3.3 milligrams; Spinach, cooked 6.3 milligrams
Broccoli, raw -- 1 milligram; Broccoli, cooked -- 1.7 milligram
Brussel Sprouts, cooked -- 1.7 milligram
Corn, cooked -- 1.2 milligrams
Egg Yolks have tiny amounts of lutein 0.2 milligrams
Check the Soup Recipe Forum for BEAN SOUP WITH KALE -- each serving provides 7 milligrams of lutein.
Why are spinach, kale and other greens so good for you? One reason: They are packed with the antioxidant lutein, a yellow pigment (the yellow is covered up by chlorophyll in green leaves)with newly discovered powers to fight disease.
According to Frederick Khachik Ph.D.., senior researcher at the University of Maryland, "We all used to talk about beta-carotene (the orange pigment in carrots) in preventing disease. It's now lutein. Lutein is just as important to health, or more so than beta carotene."
SAVES EYES: Lutein is most often hailed as a possible way to protect eyes from macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older people. A landmark Dutch study of men showed that taking 10 milligrams of lutein daily for three months increased thickness in the eye's center (macula) by 22%, presumably reducing its vulnerability to damage and loss of vision.
Researchers at Harvard found eating 6 mg of lutein a day (approx. 1/4 cup cooked spinach) lowered the offs of macular degeneration by 43%.
Eating sauteed spinach four to seven times a week for three months even reversed some very early signs of the disease, according to a small study conducted by Stuart Richer, Ph.D. at the DVA Medical Center in North Chicago, Ill.
Loading up on lutein also seems to reduce the odds of cataracts by 20 to 50% according to several studies.
DISCOURAGES CANCER: A recent study by Tufts University and Korean investigators revealed a dramatic 88% drop in breast cancer in women who had the highest blood concentrations of lutein.
Researchers at the University of Utah Medical School found that the highest consumers of lutein (a mere 2.4 mg daily) were 17% less likely to develop colon cancer than those who ate the least (300 micrograms). Generally the more lutein consumed, the lower the risk. High lutein also has been linked to fewer lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.
Researchers speculate that lutein switches off carcinogenic activity and boosts immune functioning.
PREVENTS CLOGGED ARTERIES: A University of Southern California processor, James H. Dwyer compared the carotid (neck) arteries of middle aged people. In 18 months, people with the lowest blood lutein had four times the carotid thickening of people with the highest levels (Thickening is a sign of blood vessel clogging throught the body.) PROBABLE REASON: Cells bathed in lutein were less likely to help "bad" LDL cholesterol stick to artery walls.
DELAYS LUNG AGING: People who eat the most lutein have "younger" lungs according to new research at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In fact high lutein shaved one to two years off lung age as indicated by standard lung function tests in 1,616 men and women -- ages 35 to 79 (High Vitamin E intake also boosted breathing capacity). LUTEIN SEEMS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR SMOKERS.
COMBATS ARTHRITIS: Lutein may even help block osteoarthritis pain and disability in 16 million Americans.
Researchers at the National Institute of Health recently discovered that people with the highest blood lutein were about 70% less likely to hae arthritis of the knee.
LUTEIN CAN BE FOUND IN THESE FOOD SOURCES: per 1/2 cup
Kale, cooled -- 10 milligrams
Collard Greens, cooked -- 7.7 milligrams
Spinach, raw -- 3.3 milligrams; Spinach, cooked 6.3 milligrams
Broccoli, raw -- 1 milligram; Broccoli, cooked -- 1.7 milligram
Brussel Sprouts, cooked -- 1.7 milligram
Corn, cooked -- 1.2 milligrams
Egg Yolks have tiny amounts of lutein 0.2 milligrams
Check the Soup Recipe Forum for BEAN SOUP WITH KALE -- each serving provides 7 milligrams of lutein.