Seniors need their greens, too

by Dennis Craven, Posted Sep 26th 2006 @ 5:33PM

Age related macular degeneration, or AMD, is associated with the eye's inability to remove anti-oxidants. There are two forms of AMD: the wet and the dry. The dry form accounts for about %90 of cases and is slow in progressing. It is what leads to the "cloudy" look in an eye with AMD, the culprit being the deposition of drusen around the retina.

Broccoli contains sulforaphane, an isothiocynate, that has been shown to modify the way in which some carcinogens are metabolized. According to Medical Food News, sulpforaphane (found in broccoli) actually stimulates the body's internal anti-oxidant system. Studies have been limited to the lab, but are promising with regards to retinal tissue and the removal of anti-oxidants. The thrust of the studies has been aimed at the elderly, who suffer most often from AMD.

So, the next time you hear a grand-mother tell the kids to load up on broccoli, remind her to do the same. It's easy to cook, and versatile. And we knew it was good for us all along. Next, the cauliflower.

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Filed Under: Health & Medical
Tags: age, amd, anit-oxidants, anti, broccoli, degeneration, drusen, isothiocynate, macular, oxidants, related, sulforaphane