Senior Health

2/21/2014 | By Seniors Guide Staff

Because driving equals independence for many people, it’s important to stay on top of eyesight changes that could affect your ability to drive safely. A study conducted by the Journal of Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision reported that people with glaucoma are three times more likely to be involved in a car accident than those without a serious eye condition. Recent studies show that substances called catechins, the antioxidant compounds found in many green tea varieties, can help stave off glaucoma, thus preserving and protecting seniors’ eyesight and helping them drive safer and longer. The following guide contains tips on how to drive safely well into your golden years and get the glaucoma-busting benefits of green tea.

Take Advantage of Health, Driving Resources

Find resources that focus on senior health and maintaining your license and insurance requirements. For example:

• The U.S. National Library of Medicine partnered with the National Institutes of Health to offer MedLine Plus, a comprehensive website about diseases, conditions and wellness issues. The site features an extensive section on seniors’ health.
• AARP has partnered with The Hartford to offer seniors affordable vehicle insurance and tips for staying safe on the road. They can also update you on the latest changes in driving laws and tips from health studies.

Make Sure Health Claims Are Substantiated

Many foods, supplements and beverages targeted at seniors make unsubstantiated health claims on their labels; this makes it difficult to know which products are aboveboard. Therefore, the vision benefits of green tea have been substantiated, so you can feel good about tossing it into your shopping cart. The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported that catechin antioxidants (including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin) penetrate the lens of the eye and prevent oxidative damage, which is what causes glaucoma. Reduce oxidative damage by consuming green tea every day.

How Much Green Tea Should You Drink?

One cup of green tea contains two to four percent caffeine. The experts at WebMD tell us that small amounts of caffeine are fine; consuming one to three cups of green tea throughout the day will offer enough catechins to reap the vision-building benefits. At the same time, this isn’t so much that you should experience any side effects of too much caffeine. This is, however, a general recommendation. If you find yourself feeling jittery, cut back how much you consume.

Let a Mobile App Be Your Guide

Don’t struggle to figure out which green tea you should get; let a mobile app help you choose from the green teas available. Fooducate is a trustworthy database that takes all of the label-sleuthing out of it for you. This handy app will rate green tea brands for you; you can know which one packs the healthiest punch to help you prevent glaucoma. Speaking of eye health, stay away from cataracts!