By Eileen Renders
Now that I have your attention, if you are like me and older than 50, there are ways to maintain a healthy eyesight and lower the risk of macular degeneration. There is much information out there on the internet, therefore, it is important to ensure your information is derived from a trusted source, such as the National Institutes of Health. For your safety, the following recommendations come from the NIH.gov.
While there is much information contained herein from their website, it is too much information to share here, most of which might require a biochemist to understand. Therefore, I will cut to the quick and provide the most important section, that being the studied and tested recommendations for eye health as we age.
The eyes tend to fall prey as we age to oxidative stress. The body’s antioxidant defenses, which weaken with age, are unable to protect the retinal cells against harmful free radicals, leading to a slow, progressive degradation of the color clarity of our eyesight. Also, some supplements contain questionable ingredients with little or no proof of efficacy.
Research suggests that improvement has a determined timeline of about three months before one begins to actually appreciate the changes as they become more apparent.
PMCID: PMC6523787 PMID: 30986936 – Nutrients for Prevention of Macular Degeneration and Eye-Related Diseases ~ In their Study, the goal was to find out whether or not the following supplements could prevent macular degeneration, aid in maintaining good eyesight, and prevent other eye-related diseases. Their focus was on Antioxidants, anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and vitamins.
Their Findings ~ Selenium is a powerful antioxidant, but can become toxic to the body if not ingested in a safe, recommended dose by a Specialist.
Here is the ACE ~ Vitamin A, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin are potent components in the retina of the human eye. However, some of the studies showed a protective benefit, while other studies showed no benefit.
C and E (excluding Selenium) ~ act as antioxidants in reducing the cellular oxidative stress of the retina or macular region of the eye. Anthocyanins have shown positive effects against eye disease, such as macular degeneration. Findings show that daily supplementing through ingestion of dietary carotenoids is beneficial, while other studies showed supplementing with a carotene vitamin was not beneficial.
Overconsumption of Vitamin A is toxic. Eating carotenoid-rich vegetables is what is recommended. They include: Carrots, sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, and butternut squash. With that, include a US-made supplement of Vitamin C, and a recommended dose of Vitamin E.
Disclaimer: The information contained in articles by Eileen Renders is not meant to become a substitute for one’s physician’s recommendations; they are for educational purposes only. Drugs, herbs, and or supplements are often contraindicated with certain other medications and conditions.
Eileen Renders is a retired nutrition counselor, health research writer, author, and publisher with more than a dozen published titles on www.Amazon.com She founded the First Wellness Center in Atlantic County in 1995 and was a provider for Cigna and United Healthcare.
