Eating leafy greens could prevent blindness: Study

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Wednesday 20 Jan 2016 - 18:39 Makkah mean time-10-4-1437 (Image from Alamy) London, (IINA) - A recent study revealed that a diet consistent of high amounts of leafy greens like lettuce could prevent being blinded by glaucoma, The Telegraph newspaper reported. The study showed that people who ate at least 240mg of nitrate, which is found in vegetables like spinach, were 30 percent less likely to develop glaucoma. People would need to eat just two cupfuls of lettuce each day to achieve the same result. The study said that leafy vegetables improve blood circulation to the optic nerve, which is impaired in people with glaucoma. Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston looked at records of more than 100,000 middle-aged people over 30 years looking at the diets. Around 500,000 people suffer from glaucoma in Britain, but the new research suggests that thousands of cases could be prevented if people upped their intake of leafy greens. "These results, if confirmed in observational and intervention studies, could have important public health implications", said lead author Dr. Jae Kang. Glaucoma can develop slowly over a number of years, causing a gradual loss of vision from the periphery and typically causes sensitivity to light. Due to its slow developing rate, people often do not notice that their peripheral vision is failing. The area of vision becomes narrower as the disease progresses. It is caused by a blockage in the eye preventing fluid from draining away and causing increased pressure. However, researchers found that greater intake and green leafy vegetables was associated with a 20 percent to 30 percent lower risk of regular glaucoma and up to 50 percent for glaucoma with central vision loss. It is noteworthy that a study in 2014 showed that a diet high in leafy vegetables is also good for heart health. The UK National Health Service recommends leafy greens as part of a balanced diet. AG/IINA