| An aging friend of mine had recently developed | | | | zeaxanthin. Many scientific studies have provided |
| macular segeneration and had asked me if there | | | | evidence that these nutrients prevent macular |
| were any recommendations I could make to help | | | | degeneration. |
| save his eyesight. Besides having him see his eye | | | | The chart below shows foods with high lutein and |
| doctor, I suggested a few natural methods but I | | | | zeaxanthin content. The column on the right |
| knew he had waited too long to stop this ongoing | | | | shows amounts of both nutrients combined, in a 3 |
| disease. Now at 75 regardless of his great physical | | | | ½ ounce serving of each food. |
| shape, he lost his ability to read, to play golf, and | | | | Food Amount of Lutein and Zeaxanthin (mcg) |
| to do many of the activities he enjoyed. | | | | Kale ________21,900 |
| Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision | | | | Spinach (cooked)________12,600 |
| loss in the U.S. in people over 55. Most people, like | | | | Spinach (raw) _________10,200 |
| my friend, are unaware that this eye disease can | | | | Mustard Greens_____ 9,900 |
| usually be prevented. Even if you've already got | | | | Celery____________3,600 |
| it, there's a good possibility of reversing it, or of | | | | Broccoli (cooked)______1,900 |
| halting its progression. | | | | Leaf Lettuce_______1,800 |
| Like many diseases, macular degeneration is the | | | | Peas_______1,700 |
| result of unstable oxygen atoms, called free | | | | *From Blended Medicine, The Best Choices in |
| radicals. When they enter your body, they | | | | Healing by Michael Castleman |
| damage your cells-mainly the ones found in the | | | | Other carotenoids (from the vitamin A family) can |
| macula of your eyes. | | | | boost your chances of prevention, as well. They |
| There are actually two forms of macular | | | | are all antioxidants, compounds which protect |
| degeneration. In the dry form (the most common | | | | your cells from free-radical damage. So, in addition |
| form), the macula develops yellow deposits, or | | | | to the leafy greens, make sure you also eat |
| spots, called drusen. At first, it causes dull vision. | | | | plenty of orange-colored foods such as carrots, |
| In the later stages, you begin to lose central | | | | pumpkin, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes. |
| vision. Although it is the less severe of the two | | | | Try Herbal Support |
| forms, the dry form sometimes develops into the | | | | Studies have shown that two herbal |
| wet form. | | | | extracts--bilberry and ginkgo biloba- can help stop |
| The wet form of macular degeneration leads to | | | | or reverse vision loss by improving blood flow to |
| loss of vision much more quickly. When blood | | | | the retina. Bilberries also contain a powerful group |
| vessels begin to leak blood and fluid into the | | | | of antioxidants called anthocyanosides. You can |
| retina, scar tissue forms and affects your | | | | obtain even more of these free-radical fighters by |
| eyesight. You begin to see wavy lines and blind | | | | eating lots of blueberries, blackberries and |
| spots, and you begin to lose the center of your | | | | raspberries. Grapes, plums, raisins and prunes also |
| vision, seeing only out of the corners of your | | | | contain anthocyanosides. |
| eyes. | | | | Stop Habits That Harm Your Eyeso Smoking |
| So how can you prevent this disease in the first | | | | causes free-radical damage and increases your |
| place? | | | | risk of macular degeneration.o Researchers have |
| First, begin having regular eye exams by an | | | | linked high fat diets and high cholesterol to this |
| ophthalmologist at age 50. The doctor can detect | | | | disease. Switch to a diet focused on whole foods, |
| early stages of macular degeneration, even | | | | and avoid processed foods. Increase omega-3's |
| before you have symptoms. | | | | by eating fish and nuts.o Alcohol can damage the |
| Second, eat the right foods. The key to both | | | | macula, so don't drink.o Avoid caffeine, which can |
| prevention and reversal seems to be a pair of | | | | make the disease worse.o Ultraviolet radiation |
| nutrients in the vitamin A (carotenoid) family- | | | | from the sun can damage the retina. So don't go |
| lutein and zeaxanthin, both found in leafy green | | | | outside without wearing sunglasses. |
| vegetables. If you can eat five servings a week | | | | Don't give those free-radicals a chance to steal |
| of foods such as kale, spinach or collard greens, | | | | your eyesight. Your eyesight is too precious to |
| you'll get enough of these nutrients. | | | | lose! Begin now to protect your eyes from |
| Since most people have a difficult time eating that | | | | damage. If you've already started developing |
| much, however, you'll probably need a | | | | macular degeneration, don't give up hope. There's |
| supplement. I advise all my patients who are over | | | | a lot you can do. |
| 50 to take a supplement that contains lutein and | | | | |