Cataracts & Lutein-Another Magic Bullet

So my eye doc says the cateracts I probably got in childhood from way too many blistering sunburns in FL are alive and well. He quietly told me a patient of his significantly reduced her cataract in just 4 months by taking a lutein supplement, which I could conveniently find on the checkout counter for $40 for one bottle.

Save yourself some bucks, and here's the "natural" lutein. Aren't we always looking for the magic bullet? The answer in a bottle. Scroll down and you'll find the rankings of veggies with the most amount of Lutein.
If you Google Lutein, you'll find as many links to supplements. Pretty amazing!

Lutein is a yellow or orange pigment found in some fruits and vegetables.

Function of Lutein:

Lutein is concentrated in the retinas of your eyes and is necessary for good vision. A diet rich in lutein may lower your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration.

Lutein may also help prevent or slow down atherosclerosis, the thickening of arteries, which is a major risk for cardiovascular disease.

Where To Find Lutein:

Carrots, squash and other fruits and vegetables with orange and yellow pigments are sources of lutein. Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, also contain high amounts of lutein. All are an important part of a healthy diet.

Lutein is also available as a dietary supplement. The Age Related Eye Disease study found that high doses of lutein, combined with other antioxidants, may help slow down the progression of macular degeneration. The supplement formula used in the study is Twin Lab Ocuvite, which also contains zinc and other antioxidants.
Ranking of Foods ContainingLutein

Vegetable/Fruit (100 grams or 1/2 cup)	Lutein or Zeaxanthin (Micrograms)
Kale	21,900
Collard Greens	16,300
Spinach, cooked & drained	12,600
Cress Leaf, raw	12,500
Swiss Chard, raw	11,000
Chicory Leaf, raw	10,300
Parsley	10,200
Spinach, raw	10,200
Mustard Greens	9,900
Beet Greens	7,700
Okra	6,800
Pepper, Red	6,800
Dill	6,700
Romaine Lettuce	5,700
Endive	4,000
Celery	3,600
Scallions	2,100
Leeks	1,900
Broccoli, cooked	1,800
Leaf Lettuce	1,800
Green Peas	1,700
Pumpkin	1,500
Iceburg Lettuce	1,400
Brussel Sprouts	1,300
Summer Squash	1,200
Corn	790
Pepper, Yellow	770
Green Beans	740
Pepper, Green	700
Asparagus, raw	640
Cucumber Pickle	510
Green Olives	510
Avocado, raw	320
Carrots, cooked or raw	260
Plum, raw	240
Tomato Paste, canned	190
Peach, dried	188
Kiwi Fruit, raw	180
Prune, dried	120
Pear, raw	110
Tomatoes, raw	100
Apple, raw	45
Squash, winter, cooked	38
Peach, canned, drained	28
Cabbage, red, raw	26
Tangerine	20
Onion, yellow, raw	16
Nectarine	15
Orange	14
Watermelon, raw	14
Apricot, canned, drained	2
Turnip, raw	1

Russert, Fixx & Heart Disease

Feeling like the purpose of life is to improve your community and world is what gets me up in the morning. That goal has been best served the past number of years by teaching my Cancer Project cooking classes and giving media advice to those in a position to best influence the health of others. Namely, the doctors and health care professionals I'm privileged to work with who support a low-fat vegan diet as the best medicine against diseases of affluence.

But was anyone else struck by the Tim Russert postmortems? Here's one from USA Today comparing Russert's sudden death from a heart attack to legendary runner Jim Fixx: "Both men took steps to reduce their odds of the same fate. Russert had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease...and his doctor prescribed medication and exercise. Fixx changed his diet, laced up his running shoes and ate up the miles." Fixx died alone, on the side of the road, of a heart attack similar to Russert's.

When will it become obvious to the majority of doctors that changing the diet didn't go far enough? When will doctors like John McDougall and Neal Barnard who have been singing this song for so long be appreciated and accepted by all of the mainstream doctors and media? How many Russerts will pass away before the light goes off?

I'm not a doctor, but I am a runner who suffered from angina when I did high protein diets and my cholesterol soared in one year from 135 to 203! My medical records are on Dr. McDougall's site...http://drmcdougall.com/stars/ellen_jaffe_jones.htm
All my ills completely evaporated when I changed my diet to low-fat vegan. I couldn't run without chest or joint pain until I lost the 25 pounds. My uncle dropped dead of a heart attack in his fifties, both parents had major heart disease, and so do my two sisters now. Did I get all the good genes? Don't think so. It really is this easy. I've seen it so often in my classes. More than half the class usually loses some weight after only six weeks...half of them more than 10 pounds. Without counting a single calorie or ever being hungry, and loving the great tasting CHEAP food!

Anyone concerned about the cost of food? This is the way to go. Three bucks a day. It can be done.

I'm just so weary of reading the quotes in the Russert/Fixx USA Today summary: "Though you can lower your risk of sudent death, you can't always prevent it...no matter how many veggies and miles he ran." McDougall and others have said, yes you can prevent and even reverse it. So tragically sad.