Discover the Benefits of Fish Oil
Researchers had believed that one of the benefits of fish oil might be a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration, the primary cause of blindness in the elderly. Because preliminary research looked promising, multiple studies were conducted. The results of the latest were recently released.
Increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of both the wet and dry types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by as much as 38%. Improving your nutritional intake in other ways may further reduce your risk.
For example, many researchers have been interested in the benefits of increased intake of lutein and zeaxanthin for the prevention and the treatment of AMD. Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants found in leafy green vegetables. The best known sources are kale and collard greens.
Kale is a member of the cabbage family, but it does not form a head. Collard greens are a member of the same family of vegetables. It’s a dark leafy green that is particularly popular in the southern US.
Researchers began to look at the benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin, because they are major components of the retina, which is the light gathering mechanism inside of the eye that connects to the optic nerve, which is connected to the brain. If everything goes well with that connection, we see. In AMD, the retina and specifically a small area of it called the macular, loses its ability to transmit the signals.
In dry AMD, there are yellow plaques that fog the retina and the macula. In wet AMD, there is damage to existing blood vessels and growth of new ones. The new ones are weaker. So, they burst very easily. Bleeding behind the retina causes it to detach. The result can be blindness.
In both types of AMD, the eventual result can be blindness. Usually, the central vision is lost first. In almost all cases, some peripheral vision is retained.
Wet AMD is sometimes a complication caused by diabetes, due to the damage that is done to small blood vessels in the disease. Dry AMD is sometimes hereditary. Other risk factors include high cholesterol levels, high intake of dietary fats, high blood pressure, obesity, cigarette smoking, oxidative stress and overexposure to sunlight.
There are five primary causes of cellular aging throughout the body. The first four are glycation, oxidation (free radical damage), inefficient methylation and inflammation. Those eventually lead to the fifth, which is DNA damage. Each of those factors are interrelated and related to the risk factors of AMD.
In diabetes, there is glycation and inflammation. In oxidative stress, cigarette smoking and overexposure to sunlight, there is free radical damage. High cholesterol, high blood pressure and high intake of dietary fats are often associated with obesity. In obesity, there is glycation, inflammation and free radical damage.
Increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as your intake of fruits and vegetables, including kale and collard greens, while increasing your level of physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can lower your risk of all kinds of age-related diseases.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health. Article Source: