Macular degeneration can lead to blindness, so the news that Omega 3 fats can help is good news.

Macular degeneration is the slow degeneration of the vision, with age, and it can eventually lead to blindess. The good news is that new research now shows that the risk of macular degeneration can be reduced by the consumption of good fats, or omega 3 fats.

This is very good news. Why? Because macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness amongst Americans aged over 60. So it’s incidence isn’t to be understated.

Risk factors for AMD include a family history, poor diet, smoking and, obviously, age. There is no cure for AMD caused blindness.

And it’s effects are devastating. The editors know someone who, some years ago, went blind from macular degeneration at around 65 years of age. A widowed woman, the effects on her life were devastating.

In an Australian study begun in 1992, it was found that eating one serve of fish per week was sufficient to effect a 31% reduced risk of AMD, or age related macular degeneration. The study required participants to keep a food diary and the results were tabulated with photographs of the eyes at 5 and 10 years.

The conclusion was that a regular consumption of foods high in Omega 3 fats like some nuts, olive oil and fish significantly lowered the incidence of AMD, and that a higher intake of foods high in saturated fats and trans fats, as well as a high consumption of processed foods and baked foods raised the risks of blindness.

For some years it’s been recognized that DHA makes up a large portion of the retina in the eye. And it’s also suspected that an adequate supply of DHA during the very early years may well help contribute to the better development of vision in children.

And therefore it would make sense that DHA is important I healthy and older people as much as it is for eye health in children.
So if you’re getting a little older, and aren’t we all, keep up that intake of Omega 3 and in particular olive oil. Who wants to go blind?

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