Macular degeneration is a common eye disease that results in the loss of a person¹s sharp, central vision ‹ vision required for reading, driving and sewing. Often called age-related macular degeneration (AMD) because of its association with aging, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Americans over age 50.

February is AMD Awareness Month. Following is some information that may help you prevent AMD.

Most likely, Popeye will never have macular degeneration. Why? Because his favorite food, spinach, is one of the richest forms of the antioxidant lutein. According to a Harvard University study, people who eat lutein-rich foods are 43 percent less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Lutein, a form of beta-carotene, is most highly concentrated in dark green leafy vegetables; mustard greens, collard greens, spinach and kale. People most protected from AMD eat five or more servings (1/2 cup cooked or raw) per week. An added benefit of a diet rich in vegetables is a decreased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

We have compiled some handy tips for preparing greens, along with some recipes.

Greens can be raw in salads, cooked with lemon juice and seasoned with dill. Shopping for greens is easy. Look for tender, young, unblemished leaves of bright green color. Remove the ends and imperfect leaves. Wash several times in water, lifting out each time, and drain. Cooking time varies depending on the type of greens: spinach, 3-10 minutes; beet tops, 5-15 minutes, chicory escarole and lettuce, 15-20 minutes, collard, 10-15 minutes, Swiss chard and mustard greens, 15-20 minutes, turnip greens and kale, 15-25 minutes. Greens can also be cooked in the microwave. Place the greens with just the water that clings to the leaves in a 3-quart glass casserole. Cover and microwave six minutes longer; stir. Cover and microwave until tender, 3-6 minutes longer. Let stand one minute, drain.

Now that you know ways to prepare and cook antioxidant-rich greens, here are a couple of recipes to lead you on the way to eating right.