Nutrition and age-related macular degeneration
Before getting into a discussion of nutrition and age-related macular degeneration, it’s probably worth a brief digression to illustrate a key point:
Who here wants to risk putting poor fuel in their car? Who would like to start that habit today and continue indefinitely? takers? Somebody? I do not believe it. We all know that putting poor fuel in your car’s engine will cause a breakdown fairly quickly and who needs it? Who needs the cost, downtime, or hassle?
Yet paradoxically, poor nutrition has exactly the same effect on people’s overall health / eye health but is ignored until the time comes when people with a poor diet will have to deal with the cost, time of inactivity and inconvenience. Unlike poor fuel that is put into cars, problems caused by poor nutrition can often take years to appear, but the human body, unlike your car, cannot be exchanged for a younger model when Such problems arise, at least not at the time of writing this article in anyway! In a culture where ads for unhealthy food saturate the media and where pristine packaging perfectly conceals poor food quality, healthy eating can even be perceived as boring. Recent research on macular degeneration disorder has claimed what many know to be the case anyway, but routinely ignore: that a healthy diet rich in fruits and other antioxidants, ideally consumed in their natural, unprocessed form, contributes to healthy eyesight as well as health. generally.
Scientists now believe they have identified a positive link between good nutrition and maintaining healthy eyes: Studies have shown that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can be slowed down by the vitamins and minerals found in fruits. and vegetables. These foods may even play a role in preventing the progression of category 3 and 4 age-related maculopathy and / or vision loss caused by conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Of course, vitamin supplements can also be used, but no one can deny the long-term benefits of fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables in their unprocessed state.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition that affects people 50 years of age and older. In fact, it is the most common cause of vision loss in older adults. As the name implies, macular degeneration is the degeneration of the macula, which is the part of the eye necessary to provide the sharp, central vision necessary to see objects clearly. AMD comes in two forms (wet and dry) and occurs when the macula is damaged due to deterioration of the cells of the retina (dry form) or leakage of blood vessels in or under the retina (wet form).
Scientific research has shown that antioxidants such as vitamin C (found in citrus fruits) and carotenoids (found in carrots, kale, and spinach) are the main drivers of slowing AMD and A growing number of studies link macular health to a high lutein content in the macula. Lutein compounds and related zeaxanthin compounds found in high concentrations in the center of the retina contribute to macular pigment, which protects the eyes from strong light. A daily intake of 20 mg of lutein has been shown to bring the amount of pigment to normal levels within 120 days, although taking a higher dose does not significantly affect the levels in the eye.
waterfalls
Cataracts are believed to be related to exposure to sunlight and the accompanying oxidation process that leads to clouding of the eye’s lens. But as with DMAE, this process appears to slow down with a diet rich in antioxidants, especially vitamin C.
The main vitamins for the prevention of both conditions appear to be vitamin C, folic acid, selenium, and zinc. These are typically found in green leafy vegetables, carrots, citrus fruits, and melons. Spinach, kale, and collard greens provide lutein and zeaxanthin (carotenoids) that appear to be particularly beneficial for the macula.
At this point, a warning:
Overuse of certain vitamin supplements can pose risks: Be careful with three antioxidants: vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin E: Vitamin A in excess of 5,000 units has been linked to osteoporosis, while beta-carotene has been associated with lungs. cancer in smokers. Vitamin E in excess of 400 units has been linked to excessive blood thinning, and patients taking coumadin or aspirin should be especially careful with their vitamin E dosage.
So in the final analysis and at the risk of working to the point, a well balanced nutritious diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables contains all the required antioxidants without the need for supplements and is risk free. Additionally, a diet that is also low in saturated fat, trans fat, and sugar will help not only your eyes but your overall health as well.
Points to consider
* Prevention is better than cure: Increasing your antioxidant intake will likely not restore vision that has already been lost, but it may slow the progress of the disease.
* If you are considering changing your diet to include more antioxidant-rich foods and / or taking vitamin supplements, consult your doctor. You may have other health considerations that could be affected by these dietary changes.
* Smoking is believed to be a major risk factor for eye health. Studies show that quitting smoking can have significant benefits at any age, so start the health revolution today and quit now!
* The causes of a poor diet are often cultural: companies looking to profit from processed foods saturate the media with images of smiling people eating junk food to the point that processed foods have become become the social norm and healthy foods the social exception: there is no profit from saturating the media with images of smiling people eating fruit salads. You may be able to prevent age-related macular degeneration or slow its progress by taking action today! Nutrition and health are lifelong concerns. Your health is your wealth, and since you can’t trade your body for a newer model, you’d better make sure you’re using the correct fuel – ignore this maxim at your own risk. Don’t wait until you develop an eye problem or other health problem to make changes to your diet. Who needs the cost, downtime, or hassle of potentially preventable vision defects? No tenant?
