« healthy meals | Home | eating healthy food »
steven g pratt
Perfect vision through nutrition
The next time you dine, do not forget to eat your vegetables. They can reduce the risk of related macular degeneration (AMD), a serious disease that affects 30 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of blindness among people over 50.
This board is Dr. Steven Pratt, an ophthalmologist at Scripps Memorial Senior Hospital and assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology University of California at San Diego after having discussed the role of antioxidants, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin, in preventing AMD.
These two carotenoids - found in abundance in green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach - are believed to have protective effects against AMD as vitamins C, E, zinc and Pratt added that although other clinical studies are needed to establish this relationship.
Study Age-Related Eye Disease (AREDS) Group reported earlier that high doses of antioxidant vitamins A of the (beta-carotene), C, E, and zinc reduced the risk of advanced AMD by up to 25 percent. No serious side effects were reported.
Unfortunately the trial began before the above there was sufficient evidence to suggest a role for lutein and zeaxanthin in the prevention of AMD supplements to contain these two carotenoids have not been included in the test.
However, Pratt believes that the relationship between these two carotenoids and AMD becomes evident if one considers the fact that the human macula pigment consists mainly of lutein and zeaxanthin. Persons over 60 with a low density of macular pigment - and quite low concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin - have reduced visual sensitivity, while those of the same age but with a high density of macular pigment have a visual sensibility similar to the youngest. Pratt said a loss of visual sensitivity can be a precursor of many retinal diseases, including AMD.
Although its protective role is not fully understood, researchers report macular pigment filters blue light, which is apparently detrimental to the photoreceptors and retina. Studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin absorb blue light.
Another hypothesis is that these carotenoids act as antioxidants and fight against free radicals that damage the retina. This damage was also reduced in animals fed diets rich in the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E.
The first study to shed light on the relationship between dietary antioxidant protection and AMD has the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In this study, participants aged 45 years were divided into groups based on their dietary intake of fruits and vegetables. The researchers found that those who ate fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A at least once a day had a significant protection from AMD.
However, the above study did not identify the specific nutrients responsible for this effect. This work has been done by investigators from the Eye Disease Case Study of Control who found that patients with hypertension levels of carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins had the lowest incidence of AMD.
Both the results are known, researchers say it pays to eat foods rich in vitamins A, C, E and zinc. This could well be the most safer and easier to prevent disease.
If you're bothered by eye bags, puffy eyes or dark circles under or around the eyes, use Eyevive - the safe and effective way to revitalize your eyes. Eyevive contains the right ingredients to help reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging. For details, see http://www.eyevive.com.
About the Author
Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.
Mail this post
« healthy meals | Home | eating healthy food »
Leave a Comment