| As a baby boomer myself, with a husband who | | | | 3. Diet |
| has a strong family history of AMD, we are on a | | | | What you eat and don't eat is critical to your eye |
| quest to become educated on macular | | | | health and especially for your macula and retina. A |
| degeneration prevention and to do what we can | | | | macular degeneration diet includes: |
| to prevent vision loss for ourselves and our | | | | - Carbohydrates that are low in glycemic index |
| children and grandchildren. Here are the top AMD | | | | - Fats that are good for you and in the right ratio |
| prevention tips: | | | | - Proteins that are low in fat and include lots of |
| 1. Wear Sunglasses | | | | cold water fish |
| Wearing sunglasses is the first and easiest way to | | | | 4. Antioxidants |
| protect your eyes and to prevent eye damage | | | | Antioxidants are key players in the prevention |
| due to UV-A and UV B sunrays. The retinal cells | | | | and treatment of macular degeneration. There |
| are very vulnerable to the damages of oxidization | | | | have been and are several clinical trials evaluating |
| since they are exposed to ultraviolet light. That is | | | | and studying the effects of antioxidants in the |
| why it is so important to protect our eyes with | | | | prevention of macular degeneration. Include |
| sunglasses that provide 100% UV-A and UV-B | | | | antioxidant rich food and/or antioxidant health |
| protection. The sun's rays not only cause damage | | | | supplements in your daily routine. |
| to the retina but are a cause of cataracts as well. | | | | 5. Fish Oils |
| 2. Exercise | | | | Several studies have shown the correlation |
| Cardiovascular exercise benefits the body's overall | | | | between omega 3 fatty acid consumption and the |
| health and increases the efficiency of the | | | | risk of macular degeneration. Increasing the |
| circulatory system - which helps with blood flow | | | | amount of oily fish consumption to just 2 servings |
| to the heart, the lungs, and to other parts of the | | | | per week can reduce the risk of macular |
| body... like the retina. In macular degeneration | | | | degeneration. The two critical types of omega-3s |
| there is a problem with getting oxygen rich blood | | | | are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and |
| to the macula and removing built up waste. So it | | | | eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). |
| is no surprise that researchers from the | | | | Although DHA is found in most tissues throughout |
| University of Wisconsin found those with an | | | | the body, the highest concentrations are in: |
| active lifestyle were 70% less likely to develop | | | | 1) the brain, |
| macular degeneration than those who did little or | | | | 2) the nervous system and |
| no exercise. | | | | 3) the retina of the eye. |