Macular Degeneration Vs. WFPB GWilkerson01/19/2015 Disease
What is Macular Degeneration? Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina. It’s the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina’s central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail. As people age, their chances for developing eye diseases increase dramatically. From Macular Degeneration Health Center comes: Age-Related Macular Degeneration Overview
What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 60. It occurs when the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. The disease develops as a person ages and is often referred to as age-related – (AMD). Although macular degeneration is almost never a totally blinding condition, it can be a source of significant visual disability. Macular degeneration – Causes There are two main types of age-related macular degeneration: Dry form: characterized by the presence of yellow deposits, called drusen, in the macula. As you get older, the layer of tissue underneath your retina can start to thicken. This means your retina can no longer exchange nutrients and waste products as efficiently as it used to. Waste products start to build up in your retina and form small deposits, known as drusens. A build-up of drusen, combined with a lack of nutrients, causes the light cells in your macula to become damaged and stop working. Wet form: characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels from the choroid underneath the macula. In cases of wet AMD, tiny new blood vessels begin to grow underneath the macula. These blood vessels are thought to form as a misguided attempt by the body to clear away the waste products from the retina.
The blood vessels form in the wrong place and actually cause more harm than good. They can leak blood and fluid into the eye, which can cause scarring and damage to your macula. Most people with macular degeneration have the dry form and can lose some form of central vision. However, the dry form can lead to the wet form. Although only about 10% of people with macular degeneration develop the wet form, they make up the majority of those who experience serious vision loss from the disease. Risk Factors
Alcohol It is possible that drinking more than four units of alcohol a day over the course of many years may increase your risk of having early AMD. One unit of alcohol is approximately half a pint of standard beer or lager, or one 25ml serving of spirits. Sunlight If you are exposed to lots of sunlight during your lifetime, your risk of developing macular degeneration may be increased. To protect yourself, wear UV-absorbing sunglasses if you are outside for a long time in bright sunlight. Obesity Some studies have reported that being obese – having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater – may increase your chance of developing AMD. High blood pressure and heart disease There is some limited evidence that having a history of high blood pressure or coronary heart disease may increase your risk of developing AMD. Preventing Macular Degeneration
Some tips that may help: And # 5, I will NOT recommend..but leaving it for those who want ‘proof’ that their taking it is beneficial. Macular Degeneration Prevention By Chris A. Knobbe, MD 1. Don’t smoke. Period. 2. Eat plenty of dark, leafy green vegetables, such as raw spinach. Just a half cup of raw spinach three times a week is good. 3. Take a multivitamin/multi-mineral supplement, such as Centrum Silver, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
4. If you already have AMD, ask your doctor about one of the AREDS formulations, such as Alcon I-Caps, Bausch + Lomb Ocuvite PreserVision or ScienceBased Health MacularProtect Complete. 5. Eat fish or take a fish oil supplement. I recommend taking two enteric-coated fish oil capsules every day on days you don’t eat fish. Why enteric-coated? Because it’s designed to help the capsule pass through your stomach unaltered until it finally breaks apart in the intestines; that way, you won’t belch up that fishy taste! 6. Exercise regularly, and stay at a healthy weight. 7. Eat fruit and nuts daily. 8. Reduce refined carbohydrates (high-glycemic index foods). 9. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Regular exercise and weight control can help manage your blood pressure and cholesterol. 10. Wear appropriate sunglasses outdoors to block UV and blue light that may cause eye damage. 11. Have regular eye exams.
an example of macular degeneration Whole Foods, Plant-Based for Macular Degeneration
A blogger friend in facebook posted this article recently: Texas farmer sets sights on vegetables that promote healthy vision Blindness may be slowed down or prevented altogether if it’s detected ahead of time, and one of the recommendations to stave it off strikes me as a huge motivation to think twice about what’s for dinner. The advice I’ve read and the instruction given by retina specialists to the AMD sufferers I’ve met all recommend more leafy greens and vegetables. This plant-based prescription builds up pigments in the center of the retina, protecting it from the harmful effects of blue, violet and ultraviolet light rays and serving as an antioxidant that keeps cells in the area healthy and working right. The pigments responsible for this protective quality are called lutein and zeaxanthin, neither of which are made by the body. Lutein (LOO-teen) and zeaxanthin; carotenoids, are important nutrients found in green leafy vegetables as well as other foods.
Foods highest in Lutein+Zeaxanthin are kale, spinach, Turnip Greens, dandelion greens, paprika, red or cayenne pepper, chard, mustard greens, collards, fresh basil, parsley and more greens.
http://www.plant-strong-health-blog-by-gary.com/macular-degeneration-vs-wfpb/