Macular degeneration is a frightening diagnosis for elderly patients, and new research has indicated that it could be related in some ways to Alzheimer’s disease. According to one source, “both conditions involve similar changes in the brain and eye, including the buildup of protein fragments known as beta-amyloid.” Also, the two diseases both are made worse with high blood pressure and cigarette smoking, and are linked to a higher risk of stroke.

Also, when older adults score lower on tests related to memory and learning, they are more likely to have the “early stages of the eye disease age-related …read more

Consumption of oily fish has already been demonstrated to confer a wide range of health benefits– as a brain food, in preventing asthma, in heart health, etc. Here’s another one to add to the list: eating oily fish once a week may reduce your risk of becoming blind in your sunset years due to (wet) age-related macular degeneration.
A team of researchers across seven European countries and co-ordinated by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine sought to investigate the association between fish intake and omega 3 fatty acids with wet AMD, comparing people with wet AMD with controls. Participants …read more

In the past, I have written about reports on the benefits of zeaxanthin and lutein supplements on eye health such as reducing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration risks. But to date, it has remained unclear how these compounds confer their protective benefits.
A new study published in the Journal of Lipid Research, however, provides clues as to how the compounds move from the blood stream to the eye. Apparently, a protein called SR-B1, or scavenger receptor class B, type 1, is responsible for transporting nutrients to the eye.
These study provides supporting evidence on the potential of zeaxanthin and lutein in preventing …read more

Avoiding eggs because of their bad rep as having high cholesterol content? You don’t have to, according to Mark’s Daily Apple, citing a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association which found no such link between egg consumption and increased risks for cardiovascular disease. In fact, they suggested that egg consumption may actually prevent blood clots, stroke and heart attack.
Aside from that, egg consumption also offer a roster of other health benefits. They are an excellent source of choline (important in fetal brain development but well, maybe it’s never too late), selenium (prevents cancer), lutein and zeaxanthin …read more

According to a prospective study published this month in Archives of Ophthalmology, higher dietary intakes of lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E from food and supplements were found to be associated with significantly decreased risks of cataract among women. A cataract is an age-related condition characterized by clouding of the lens in the eye, thus affecting vision.
According to this related article in WebMD:
Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin include leafy green vegetables (such as spinach, kale, turnip greens, collards, and mustard greens), squash, green peas, broccoli, pumpkin, and corn.
Foods rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils, almonds, sunflower seeds, leafy green …read more

Two reports in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology points to two dietary interventions that may reduce the risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness among the elderly:
Higher intake of {omega}-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (DHA), as well as fish consumption, was associated with decreased likelihood of having neovascular AMD (advanced age-related macular degeneration).
Omega-3 fatty acids may influence processes involved in the development of blood vessel– and nerve-related diseases of the retina, the authors write. For instance, DHA may protect the retina by influencing which genes turn on and off, while fatty acids overall may eventually form …read more

A recent study indicates that Cognis’ Xangold lutein and zeaxanthin supplement (12 mg lutein for six months) is effective at boosting eye health among those with early-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the number one cause of severe vision loss and legal blindness in adults over 60 in the U.S.
“A significant augmentation of macular pigment density was found in a majority of study subjects, including those afflicted with AMD. The importance of these findings rests on the fact that the beneficial effects of these antioxidants can also be extended to subjects with established disease.”
It seems that supplemental lutein and/or …read more

Did you know that daily consumption– about 85g daily– of fresh watercress can significantly reduce DNA damage to blood cells due to free radicals, and thus reduce cancer risks? Watercress is a rich source of phytochemicals called glucosinolates, and also contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids.
According to a study published in this month’s American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a watercress diet resulted to

significant reduction in DNA damage to lymphocytes (white blood cells), by 22.9 per cent.
reduction in DNA damage to lymphocytes (white blood cells) when a sample was challenged with the free radical generating chemical hydrogen peroxide, by 9.4%
reduction in …read more