Here’s some news to help “brighten” your mother’s day:

New research suggests that those beautiful bright yellow vegetables she’s been enjoying can help protect her against the leading cause of blindness among older Americans—Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

The study, published in this month’s edition of Archives of Ophthalmology, observed the diet patterns of approximately 1,800 women between the ages of 50 and 79. After taking blood work and performing eye scans on the women, they discovered women 75 years and younger who consumed foods with yellow pigment were at a lesser risk in acquiring the intermediate stage of AMD.

The chemicals responsible for these eye-protecting qualities are from the vegetables’ carotenoids—lutein and zeaxanthin, specifically—found in pumpkin, corn and squash. They’re also found in egg yolks and green vegetables like broccoli, peas, lettuce and spinach. These carotenoids seem to help absorb excess light before it damages the retina, the part of the eye AMD affects.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin say these results don’t come as a surprise. In fact, as they write in the journal, it establishes a “broad body of evidence from observational and experimental studies that these carotenoids may protect against AMD.”

Mike Adams, holistic nutritionist and consumer health advocate, concurred.

“These findings further demonstrate the healing potential of plant-based medicine provided by nature,” said Adams to Newstarget.com. “Each color found in fruits and vegetables is actually a different medicine…To be healthy and avoid disease, eat natural foods containing all the colors of the rainbow.”

The researchers are hoping for more expansive studies in the future in order to illustrate a more conclusive link between AMD avoidance and consuming foods rich with carotenoids.

Age-related Macular Degeneration affects the macula, the part of the retina that enables the eye to see things in fine detail. The onset of AMD blurs activities like driving or reading; in other words, any activity that requires looking straight ahead. Because AMD is not painful, many people don’t even notice they’re slowly losing their eyesight. And once AMD has reached the advanced stage, there is no way in which to prevent further damage; treatment is beyond reach. If, however, AMD is detected in its intermediate stages, natural treatments like taking zinc and various antioxidants can reduce or even prevent the risk of it advancing any further (according to the National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study).

AMD most frequently afflicts those who are over 60, but it can also affect the middle-aged folk. As age increases, so too does the risk. If you want to avoid it, start by avoiding some common health-related pitfalls such as smoking and poor health; the National Eye Institute specifically cites obesity and smoking as risk factors. If you’re looking for a more proactive approach, again, the National Eye Institute suggests doing the exact things that I've been endorsing:

· Exercise
· Eat a diet rich in vegetables
· Don’t smoke
· Keep your weight in check
· Keep your blood pressure low

Yet more evidence on how our every day health habits impact our lives, or more specifically, our eyes.