Macula lutea degeneration treatment of the eye and how to prevent it, diet, food

Macula Degeneration diet, food - How to prevent it with natural pills, supplements, vitamins and herbal extracts, dietary and nutritional advice

The degeneration of the macula occurs as we age. As research advances in terms of our knowledge of the macula lutea of the eye, scientists are realizing that degeneration of the macula occurs due to oxidation. This oxidation can be reduced or prevented by increasing the amount of antioxidants in the diet or by taking antioxidant supplements. The most important antioxidants to prevent degeneration of the macula are lutein and zeaxanthin. If you would like to improve your vision, consider Eyesight Rx with lutein, formulated by a medical doctor. We find fish oils, which have the fatty acids EPA and DHA, to be helpful for the health of the macula of the eye.

Lutein, 20 mg

Lutein is a potent antioxidant carotenoid found in abundance in fruits and green leafy vegetables. Lutein is also one of the dominant pigments found in the macular region of the retina. In the macula, lutein is selectively accumulated from plasma and filters out visible blue light. Recent studies suggest this filtering process serves to protect the retina from damage caused by light or oxidation. This Lutein product is extracted from the marigold flower.

Supplement Facts:
Lutein - 20 mg *

Age-related macular degeneration is an ocular disease that causes damage to the retinal macula, mostly in the elderly. Normal aging processes can lead to structural and blood flow changes that can predispose patients to degeneration of the macula, although advanced age does not inevitably cause AMD. The role of genetics in AMD and age-related changes in ocular blood flow may play a role in the pathogenesis of degeneration of the macula.

Natural treatment for degeneration of the macula
Degeneration of the macula is a condition in which there is progressive deterioration of the central area of the retina, resulting in gradual sight loss in the center of the field of vision. Treatment for degeneration of the macula is still evolving and advancing. Unfortunately little macular degeneration treatment research is focused on natural approaches. Some basic nutritional treatments for macular degeneration are being overlooked. These include the use of plant antioxidants and the use of fish oils.

Carbohydrates and macula degeneration
Persons at risk of age related macular degeneration progression would benefit from consuming a smaller amount of refined carbohydrates. Avoid simple carbohydrates such as sugar and drinking sodas full of sugar. Also reduce intake of high fructose corn syrup.

Healthy diet for prevention of macula degeneration
Eating yellow and green vegetables may help people aged 60 and older avoid age-related macula degeneration. About 4,500 people aged 60-80 who were screened for age-related macula degeneration. Participants reported how often they had eaten 90 different foods during the past year. Those foods included yellow and green veggies rich in the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin. Those with the highest self-reported intake of foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin were 35 percent less likely than those with the lowest lutein and zeaxanthin intake to have "wet" age-related macula degeneration. "Wet" age-related macula degeneration involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels beneath the macula. Those blood vessels leak blood and fluid, disrupting vision. The study doesn't prove that lutein and zeaxanthin prevent age-related macula degeneration. Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin include spinach, kale, turnip greens, collards, mustard greens, squash, green peas, broccoli, pumpkin, and corn.

Archives of Ophthalmology, May 2009
Eating fish, nuts, olive oil and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and avoiding trans fats may help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Among 2,454 participants in the long-running Blue Mountains Eye Study, Jennifer S. L Tan, of Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Australia found that eating one serving of fish per week was associated with a 31 percent lower risk of developing early AMD. Eating one to two servings of nuts per week was associated with a 35 percent lower risk of early AMD. In a related study in the journal, Dr. Elaine W.-T. Chong, of the Centre for Eye Research Australia, and colleagues report that a diet with large amounts of foods containing unhealthy trans fats may raise the risk of AMD. People who consume the most trans-unsaturated fats, found in baked goods and processed foods, are more likely to have late AMD than people who consumed the least trans-unsaturated fats. Dr. Elaine W.-T. Chong says "Our findings suggest that people who follow a diet low in processed foods high in trans-unsaturated fatty acids and rich in omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil might enjoy some protection from developing AMD."