{"id":7891,"date":"2017-09-22T16:13:58","date_gmt":"2017-09-22T16:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nutrishield.com\/?p=7891"},"modified":"2017-09-22T16:15:00","modified_gmt":"2017-09-22T16:15:00","slug":"avoid-vision-loss-after-50","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.nutrishield.com\/?p=7891","title":{"rendered":"Avoid vision loss after 50"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clinical trials support use of food supplements
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Avoid<\/a><\/p>\n

To realise that you are beginning to lose your sight is a truly frightening experience.<\/p>\n

A condition called macular degeneration<\/strong> is the leading cause of loss of vision. And because it occurs most often after the age of 60, it\u2019s usually referred to as A<\/strong>ge-related M<\/strong>acular D<\/strong>egeneration \u2013 or AMD<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But two peer-reviewed clinical trials on natural food supplements bring real hope. They show that the risks of developing AMD can be very substantially reduced and that the progress of the disease can be slowed or even halted.<\/p>\n

How AMD develops<\/h4>\n

Your macula is part of your retina \u2013 the area in the back of your eye that turns images into signals which go to your brain. It lets you see small details clearly. When the macula starts to break down, you begin to have difficulty seeing detail.<\/p>\n

As the disease gets worse, you lose your central vision. That makes it a problem to drive, read or make out faces clearly.<\/p>\n

There are two forms of Macular Degeneration \u2013 dry and wet. Most people (over 85%) have what is called \u201cdry\u201d macular degeneration, which develops slowly.<\/p>\n

Dry AMD<\/h5>\n

Dry AMD develops through lack of nutrients and the development of what are called drusen<\/em> in your retina. These are small white or yellow fatty deposits largely consisting of cholesterol. \u00a0They cause the retina to begin to break down.<\/p>\n

There is a genetic component, but anyone can succumb because inflammation and oxidative (free radical) damage to tissues, nerves and photoreceptor cells are the ultimate drivers of dry AMD.<\/p>\n

Wet AMD<\/h5>\n

With the \u201cwet\u201d version, abnormal leaky blood vessels damage your macula and change the shape of your retina. While it\u2019s less common, the wet type of macular degeneration is the cause of 90% of all vision loss leading to legal blindness. Often the \u2018wet\u2019 type follows the development of the \u2018dry\u2019 type.<\/p>\n

Risk factors for AMD<\/h4>\n

A 2014 Lancet article estimates the risk of AMD is about 2% if you are under the age of 50, but this rises to almost 20% for people over the age of 75. About 65% of AMD cases occur in women and 35% in men but this is partly as women live longer.<\/p>\n

According to the National Eye Institute, risk factors include smoking, a poor highly processed diet, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, a low intake of anti-oxidants and overweight or obesity.<\/p>\n

The Lancet adds fluctuating blood sugar levels and high levels of inflammation and oxidative (free radical) damage as risk factors. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are frequently co-existing diseases \u2013 which is logical because the driver behind these illnesses is also inflammation and free radical damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\"Avoid<\/a>
Without macular degeneration<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\"Avoid<\/a>
With macular degeneration, central vision is compromised<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The AREDS studies confirm AMD risk can be cut with supplements<\/h4>\n

Two studies confirm that the risk of AMD can be cut substantially through taking food supplements. They are called AREDS 1 and AREDs 2. ARED stands for A<\/strong>ge R<\/strong>elated E<\/strong>ye D<\/strong>isease S<\/strong>tudy. Both studies were conducted by the National Eye Institute \u2013 a part of the US Government\u2019s National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n

AREDS1 reported in 2001 and since the results were good, it was followed by AREDS2 which started in 2006 and ran 5 years. Its purpose was to see if an improved nutritional formula would work even better.<\/p>\n

The supplements the studies used were both designed as high anti-oxidant formulae. They include the carotenoids lutein, beta carotene and zeaxanthin, plus high dose vitamin C and a small number of selected minerals.<\/p>\n

AREDS 1 Formula<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Nutrient<\/th>\nper day<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Vitamin C<\/td>\n500mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vitamin E<\/td>\n400 IU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zinc<\/td>\n80mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Copper<\/td>\n2mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beta carotene<\/td>\n15mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
AREDS 2 Formula<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Nutrient<\/th>\nper day<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Vitamin C<\/td>\n500mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vitamin E<\/td>\n400 IU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zinc<\/td>\n80mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Copper<\/td>\n2mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lutein<\/td>\n10mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zeaxanthin<\/td>\n2mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The results of AREDS 2 showed long lasting benefits with a very significant \u2013 32% \u2013 lower risk of advanced AMD.<\/p>\n

Improving the results of supplementation even further<\/h4>\n

Can we even improve on these results? We can. The basis is a high anti-oxidant and<\/u> a high anti-inflammatory diet and supplement. Here are 5 specific ways.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
    Boost fish oil consumption<\/h5>\n

    A study at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and another at the University of Sydney showed that men over 50 with the highest levels of oily fish consumption were 45 percent less likely to have AMD than those who ate the least amount of fish. High consumption was over two servings weekly; low consumption was less than one serving per week. So make salmon, herrings and sardines a frequent choice and\/or add an Omega 3 supplement.<\/li>\n

  2. \n
    Eat nuts, green vegetables and fruit daily<\/h5>\n

    A 2004 study at Harvard Medical School showed that people who ate three or more servings of fruit daily had a substantially lower risk of wet or advanced AMD. Blueberries, bilberries, blackcurrants and cherries are especially beneficial since they contain what are called polyphenols. Polyphenols are a large class of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that fruits and vegetables have evolved to protect themselves \u2013 and when we eat those plants we get the same protective benefit too.<\/p>\n

    In the case of berry fruits, the polyphenols are called anthocyanins \u2013 and anthocyanins give the berries their dark colouring and are powerful anti-oxidants.<\/p>\n

    A further study from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary reported that people who consumed the most vegetables rich in carotenoids (like lutein, lycopene and\u00a0zeaxanthin) had a 43 percent lower risk of AMD than those who ate the least. Carotenoid-rich foods include spinach, kale and leafy green vegetables.<\/li>\n

  3. \n
    Limit your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates<\/h5>\n

    Diets high in refined carbohydrates increase the risk of AMD, because they have a high glycemic index, causing a rapid increase in blood sugar and insulin release. In addition, sugars promote what is called glycation \u2013 where sugar molecules bond to proteins and cause \u2018cross linking\u2019 in body tissues. This cross linking is a little like wires becoming tangled and results in the general stiffening of tissues \u2013 including both small blood vessels and arteries.This not only damages eyes and the heart, but is a major cause of skin ageing.<\/li>\n

  4. \n
    Exercise regularly<\/h5>\n

    According to a study in the\u00a0British Journal of Ophthalmology,<\/em> which monitored 4,000 people for 15 years, people who led an active lifestyle were 70 percent less likely to have AMD develop during the follow-up period. \u2018Active\u2019 was defined as walking at least two miles a day for 3 days a week.<\/li>\n

  5. \n
    Wear sunglasses with UV and blue light protection<\/h5>\n

    A major recent study found that people who consumed too few antioxidants, and had overexposure to blue light, were four times more likely to develop advanced or wet AMD.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Other risk reduction actions<\/h4>\n