This study found that after the 10 year study period was up 2,031 of their participants developed cataracts. Those who took the most Vitamin E supplements and natural food intake were found to be 14% less likely to develop cataracts than those participants who had lower or non-existent levels of Vitamin E. Additionally, women who took in more lutein and zeaxanthin, which are compounds found in darker and yellow leafy vegetables were 18% less likely to develop cataracts in their future.

Vitamin E levels can do a great deal for the body and by including this vitamin in your diet through foods you are taking the responsibility and control over your own health.  You can find Vitamin E through foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, whole grains, brown rice, nuts, seeds and legumes.

This is just a short list of the different areas you can utilize to make sure that your Vitamin E levels are where they should be. The daily recommended dosage or intake of Vitamin E can vary when it comes to your age and current health condition, which makes it a smart choice to visit a naturopathic professional to learn what your specific and unique Vitamin E intake should be and if you are a candidate for supplements if your levels are increasingly low.

With this new study stating that Vitamin E can also have an effect on your vision that is just one more reason to make sure that you are doing everything you can to include Vitamin E rich foods in your diet or making the necessary arrangements for the proper supplements for you. Always do what you can to extract Vitamin E naturally through foods.

Published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology, the study says that the compounds lutein and zeaxanthin may prove as preventable antidotes to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)!

Researchers studied the dietary habits of 4,500+ participants between the ages of 60 and 80 over a six year period. They did this to see what, if any, correlation there was between their diets and the onset of ARMD. Stunningly, the researchers found that the seniors who consumed the highest amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin had a 35 percent lower progression rate of age-related macular degeneration than those who consumed the smallest amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin. The researchers also examined the effects of beta-carotene and vitamins C and E on ARMD, but no dice; only lutein and zeaxanthin correlated to the rate of age-related macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration occurs when the center of the eyeball—called the macula—thins and atrophies, usually due to the wear and tear that accompanies the aging process. When this happens, a loss of vision results. Common symptoms include being unable to see fine details, blurry vision and an inability to discern between different colors. According to the American Academy of Opthamology, ARMD is the leading cause of vision loss for those over the age of 50, and its prevalence only increases with age (35 percent increased risk between the ages of 75 to 85).

The aforementioned preventive compounds to ARMD—zeaxanthin and lutein—are carotenoids, which, among other things, give fruits and vegetables their color. And guess what? They’re found in the very same foods you refused to eat when you were young, despite your mom’s insistence—like brussel sprouts, broccoli, spinach and zucchini.

If you still refuse to eat these vegetables, there are a number of other sources to go to. These include, corn, collard greens, romaine lettuce, eggs, peas, squash, kale and turnip greens. They’re also found in a number of fruits, such as grapes, kiwis, and oranges. But if you’re looking for the food source with the highest amount of lutein, corn is the winner (60 percent of total carotenoids found is lutein).

Currently, over a million people in the country suffer from age-related macular degeneration. Perhaps by eating more of these fruits and vegetables it will help bring that number down.