Use Diet to Overcome Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration, which affects as many as 30 million Americans aged 65 and above, is a slow, progressive disease that affects both eyes, typically one after the other. The macula is a small central part of the retina for detailed vision. There are many causes of macular degeneration: heredity; hypertension; high cholesterol; sun damage; and smoking.

Due to its slow development, macular degeneration may take years to be noticeable. If you are 65, you have 25 percent of developing macular degeneration; your risk increases to 30 percent if you are over 75.

According to conventional Western medicine, macular degeneration is incurable. The good news is that macular degeneration can be treated naturally with high doses of antioxidants and minerals.  Beta-carotene provides vitamin A and enhances normal cell reproduction in the eye, thereby instrumental in protecting the eye from free radicals and improving night vision. Vitamin C boosts and strengthens your immune system, and is a potent agent for making collagen to maintain healthy blood vessels in the eye. Vitamin E protects cell membranes. Zinc not only strengthens more than 300 enzymes to repair wounds, but also protects the eye from free radicals.

Remember, with the exception of vitamin D from sunlight, your body does not make your own vitamins and minerals; you must obtain the above from your diet. Antioxidants and vitamins and minerals are critical to vision health in preventing and treating generative diseases, such as macular degeneration. Take nutritional supplements. Lutein, a carotenoid found in vegetables and fruits, such as collard greens, kale, and spinach, promotes vision health through its potent antioxidant properties. Taurine promotes retinal health and improves nigh vision by transporting nutrients to the eye as well as eliminating toxic accumulation in the eye. DHA, an essential Omega-3 fatty acid, enhances the development of the retina. Ginkgo biloba is an ancient Chinese herb for vision health.

Use diet to overcome macular degeneration. Albert Einstein once said: "There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle." Believe in a miracle cure, even for macular degeneration.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau