Poor Diet Can Result In Your Serious Vision Impairment
A poor diet which includes a lot of junk food increase your risk for serious visual impairment, like age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
By junk food, refer specifically to lots of red and processed meats, and fat-packed dairy. These foods are bad for your heart, and contribute to high cholesterol and other health issues. Now there’s evidence that it can also raise your risk of developing vision loss. Vision loss affects 11 million people in the U.S. and is the leading cause of vision loss among Americans over age 50.
Poor Diet: Study Results
Researchers at the University at Buffalo (UB) analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC). 4,000 participants ages 45 to 64 described their diets between 1987 and 1995. They were divided into two groups: “Western” (unhealthy) and “Prudent” (healthy). They found that people who regularly ate unhealthy foods were three times more likely to develop late-stage AMD over the next 18 years. The findings were published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology last month.
AMD is a common eye condition and a leading cause of vision loss in adults aged 50 and over. The disease is characterized by damage to the macula, a small area near the center of the retina that is responsible for sharp, central vision. The only way to detect early macular degeneration is through a dilated eye exam, so experts recommend regular checkups for people over 40.
Cutting out junk food is only one part of the equation. In addition, eye doctors recommend eating healthy foods such as dark, leafy green vegetables. These foods contains antioxidants, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Also, add carrots as your body converts it into carotene which is an excellent source of Vitamin A.
This is the first study to date in the U.S. that has looked at the development of late AMD over time, by evaluating the entire diet.
