Saturday, January 14, 2017

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.

Doctors say that this condition is genetic, but lifestyle can be important, too. Obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a diet high in trans-fat are listed as contributing factors. Smoking is the main culprit; it should be avoided by those who care about the health of their eyes. Anyone genetically disposed to AMD should be aware of their heightened risk if they smoke tobacco.

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.

Vitamins A, C, and E have long been known to have positive effects on the body, so it's no surprise that these are on the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) list. Of course, there are many studies and conflicting reports, so it pays to do some research. Results may differ, for instance, if the synthetic form of a nutrient is used rather than a natural form. Benefits almost always are associated with natural vitamins.

Although you may read that antioxidants are not helpful, there are many on the list of nutrients that showed promise in clinical tests. A, C, and E are antioxidants, for that matter. Antioxidants are said to be good for over-all health, which is another contradiction in the conclusions. Millions of consumers who take supplements seem to feel that their money is well-spent, even if the research is not crystal clear.

The latest fads are super-fruit supplements, either fresh juices or pills made from extracts. Many of the colorful pigments in fruits and vegetables are also bio-nutrients believed to be especially valuable in eye health. Punicalagin is found in pomegranate juice. Anthocyanins are a class of bioflavanoid that are considered valuable; blueberries, acai berries, and raspberries are good sources. Lutein and zeaxanthin are other unpronounceable nutritional powerhouses.

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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