Diet For Healthy Eyes

Regular consumption of fish, nuts, olive oil and other products containing omega-3 fatty acids, as well as minimal intake of trans fats, can significantly reduce the risk of various eye diseases, including macular degeneration.

The disease is most often associated with age-related changes in the macula and is therefore commonly referred to as age-dependent macular degeneration. It mainly affects people over the age of 50, and over 65 its frequency increases even more. There is also a juvenile form of the disease, which is observed in young people and is due to genetic abnormalities leading to gradual atrophy of the macula.

A study conducted in Australia involved 2,454 people. Volunteers were asked to regularly consume at least one or two servings of walnuts a week. After 10 years, the researchers found that participants who regularly consumed nuts, the risk of developing macular degeneration was reduced by nearly 35%.


The results, published by experts from the University of Sydney, show that eating at least one serving of fish a week reduces the risk of early development of the pathological condition by 31%.


Ophthalmologists are alarmed that the incidence of retinal degeneration is increasing dramatically and in England alone this diagnosis has been made to more than 500,000 people. Half of them were diagnosed with "blindness" or "partial vision loss".
 

In an article in The Archives of Ophthalmology, Jennifer Tan, the study's lead author, noted that the results supported the hypothesis that diet affects vision. Increasing the intake of foods containing polyunsaturated, Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as regular use of fish and / or nuts can prevent the body from developing macular degeneration in the early stages of the disease.


Fatty acids are known to prevent plaque formation in the arteries, reduce irritation and protect retinal cells from the harmful effects of oxidative processes in the body.

 
According to another publication in the same magazine, people whose daily menu is high in olive oil - 100 ml per week, are less at risk of developing the disease than those who consume no more than 1 ml of the product per week.
 

Despite the results, scientists are of the opinion that research should continue. Research should show how a change in daily diet can prevent or delay the development of macular degeneration.
 

According to experimental studies conducted by Italian and Australian scientists, pilaf and paella can prevent vision loss. Researchers at the University of Aquila and colleagues at the University of Sydney have found that saffron, which is traditionally used in Italian, Indian and Spanish cuisine, can protect against the most common forms of blindness. Experiments conducted with experimental animals show that this spice protects the eyes from damage caused by bright sunlight and slows the development of genetic diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.
 

Another study strongly shows that people who frequently consume foods fortified with trans fats and pasta are more likely to develop macular degeneration. According to scientists, trans fats cause inflammatory processes that provoke age-related changes in the retina. Unlike these fats, omega-3 fatty acids protect the eyes from damage, thanks to their strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
 

Excessive consumption of red meat can increase the risk of blindness by about 50 percent, scientists warn. A new study shows that those who eat ten or more servings of red meat a week are at 50 percent more likely to get age-related eyelids, which can lead to blindness.


The researchers also found that eating chicken at least three times a week could reduce the risk of blindness by more than 50 percent. The curtain of the eyes usually appears after the age of 50, when new blood vessels in the eye release secretions, thus damaging vision. According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, reducing red meat consumption may help some people recover.
 

Researchers at the University of Melbourne studied the eating habits of 6,700 people between the ages of 58 and 69 and linked the results to previously identified symptoms of the disease. Those who ate ten servings of red meat a week were 47 percent more likely to experience the first symptoms of blindfolds than those who ate less than five servings a week. In contrast, participants who ate chicken at least 3.5 times a week were 57 percent less likely to lose their sight than those who ate chicken 1.5 times a week.