The Value Of A Macular Degeneration Supplement

By Patricia Anderson


With Age-Related Macular Degeneration, (AMD), people lose the ability to see straight ahead. This, of course, makes normal life impossible. Medical experts say that a high-quality macular degeneration supplement can slow the progression of this disease.

When the center of the retina disintegrates, no messages from this part of the eye reach the brain. Nothing straight ahead can be seen. Reading, driving a car, or seeing the person you are speaking to are no longer possible. This means a normal life is over. For all practical purposes, people with AMD are blind.

Researchers know that this condition is genetic, which means that some are in a higher than normal risk category. However, lifestyle is important for everyone who wants to keep their vision. Smoking tobacco carries the most risk. Lack of exercise, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a fast food diet (low in nutrition, high in trans fats) are other important factors. AMD generally affects both men and women over 50.

As far as supplementing a whole-foods diet with supplements go, the research is not definitive. Reports say that supplements can't prevent the disease but that they slow the progression. They report that no benefit is seen in the early stages of AMD, but vitamins and minerals seem to help with more advanced symptoms. Since all the nutrients studied are considered good for total body health, there seems to be little point in waiting to start taking them.

Some of the nutrients are familiar friends. Most of us will recognize Vitamins C, E, and A, which are all recommended. If you would like to see the reports, do an online search. You may see conflicting opinions about the value of supplements. Remember that studies done using natural dietary aids report benefits, while those using synthetic, man-made products may see little or no improvement.

Antioxidants (which include C and E) are considered helpful, although not all of the information agrees. However, since antioxidants have been shown to positively impact some of the health conditions that can lead to AMD, there seems to be a contradiction here. Many of the millions who take supplements would rather err on the side of 'maybe it will help' than deny themselves that possibility.

Super-fruits contain many less familiar substances which have been the subject of recent studies. Pomegranate juice contains something called punicalagin which may be the most effective of all. Anthocyanins (colored pigments found in berries and other fruits) help protect eyes from the effects of aging. Lutein and zeaxanthin are other nutrients shown to be helpful.

Fish oils, carotenes, Vitamin D, and minerals like zinc, copper, and selenium are also on the list. Getting the right amounts of these nutrients is important. The best way to do this is to find a good supplement that contains most if not all the recommended nutrients. Choose a reputable manufacturer with third-party evaluations that prove they provide the nutrients they promise - and that their product contains them in effective doses. You can find products clinically proven to be effective. This ensures your money is well spent and your eyes are getting the best help possible.




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