Written by:
Michelle Milgrim, MS RD CDN, Manager Employee Wellness, Northwell Health.
Jennifer Young, Dietetic Intern, Northwell Health.
Can an orange a day really keep macular degeneration away?
While Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is commonly believed to be caused by uncontrollable risk factors such as family history, light color eyes, female gender, genetics, and advanced age, mounting research suggests that preventing AMD may be more in our control than we think. Improving nutrition habits through small dietary changes has been found to prevent and slow the development of AMD, a leading cause of vision loss in the United States.
Keys to AMD-Fighting Nutrition
Blueberries with mint and rosemary in a basket, on a light-blue table.
Health-Boosting Antioxidants
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), sponsored by the National Eye Institute, found that high dose supplementation of antioxidants of 5 to 15 times the recommended daily allowance (RDA) reduced the risk of developing late-stage AMD by 25%. Many popular brands of eye vitamins now contain the study’s daily recommended formulation: 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 40 to 80 mg zinc, 2 mg copper, as well as 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin……
Healthy, Mediterranean-Style Eating
Diets rich in green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, whole fruits, nuts of any kind, and fish is the whole food counterpart to the AREDS supplement recommendation that is not only cancer-protective and heart-healthy but a dietary line of defense specific to those with a high risk of developing AMD.
A recent study of 4,996 adults over 55 years of age in the European Union similarly found that strictly following a Mediterranean diet cut the risk of developing advanced AMD by 41 percent. Abundant in fruits and vegetables, fish, legumes, nuts, and healthy plant fats, the Mediterranean-style eating pattern is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols (plant chemicals), and antioxidants.
Read more: https://ophthalmicedge.org/patient/the-anti-amd-diet/?fbclid=IwAR3H5ArkuvjBKDy7NSshpaaceIM3BZcZ2XbMgFleCrVicU6kss_yCSbRGOw
Source: Ophthalmic Edge