May is Healthy Vision Month, and in recognition I thought it would be good to highlight some of the ways in which your diet—and pistachios—may help maintain healthy vision. 

A Handful of Pistachios Make (Sugar Free) Eye Candy:

• Pistachios Contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin
  The macula of the eye is concentrated with two antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin. Research conducted at Texas Woman’s University has found that when adults were given nearly two ounces of pistachios daily, blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin increased by 50 percent. Pistachios are the only nut to contain significant amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoid antioxidants that have been associated with a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 65.  Other nutrients thought to reduce the risk of AMD include vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene and zinc.
• Pistachios Help Keep Your Arteries Clear
  The eyes are very vascular and require good blood flow to keep the tissue nourished.  If your arteries are in poor condition due to high blood pressure, or atherosclerosis, your eyesight may eventually suffer from the lack of oxygen and nutrients being delivered to the eyes via the blood.  A healthy plant-based diet that includes plenty of fruits, veggies and whole grains is best.

Eating fish or foods supplemented with DHA and EPA long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fats have been shown to also reduce the risk of AMD.  A meta-analyses study published in the Archives of Opthalmology reported that high dietary intakes of omega-3 fatty acids resulted in a 38 percent reduction in the risk for AMD.

Pistachios are keeping an eye out for you health.

Kelly Plowe, MS, RD

Although she still remains a Boston sports fan, Kelly has changed her east-coast ways, adapting to the California lifestyle.