Eat Grains and Sugars if You Want to go Blind

from mercola.com:

"Carbohydrates that cause blood sugar levels to spike and fall rapidly could be a risk factor for central vision loss with aging. Central vision loss is one of the first signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness among the elderly.
Diets high in carbohydrates that are quickly digested and absorbed, such as white bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, sugars and corn syrups are also suspected of being involved in the vision loss that sometimes accompanies diabetes.

The type of damage to eye tissue produced by these "fast" carbs could be similar in both AMD and diabetic eye disease.

Sources:
a.. Science Daily November 27, 2007
a.. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition October, 2007; 86

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Losing your eyesight is a common concern as you age. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible blindness among the elderly, with an estimated 13 million Americans, age 65 and over, suffering from the disorder. Conventional medicine has been unable to find any kind of treatment for its most common variety (dry AMD).

But first, let's be clear that aging does not automatically equate to diminished eyesight, as there are plenty of people in their 80s and beyond who still have good vision. However, as you age, changes can indeed occur that may weaken your ability to see.

What is Macular Degeneration?

Your retina is about the size of a postage stamp and your macula only about the size of a pencil tip.

Located in the macula - in the center of your retina -- are your cone cells, which produce color vision, and are used for reading and fine central vision. Your rod cells, which are in the periphery of your retina, are used for night vision and side vision.

When your cones begin to degenerate, the result is macular degeneration and loss of your central vision. As AMD progresses, tiny, fragile blood vessels begin to develop in the retina. These vessels often leak blood and fluid that damages the retina even further.

What are the Warning Signs of Macular Degeneration?

Some of the warning signs of AMD include:

a.. Blurred vision (may be the first symptom)
b.. Straight lines begin to appear crooked
c.. Dark or empty spaces may block central vision
You can also check your vision regularly using the Amsler Grid.

a.. Use a bright reading light
b.. Wear your reading glasses if appropriate
c.. Hold the chart approximately 14-16 inches from your eye
d.. Cover one eye
e.. Look at the center dot
f.. Note irregularities (wavy, size, gray, fuzzy)
g.. Repeat the test with your other eye
h.. Contact your ophthalmologist if you see any irregularities or notice any changes

The Two Types of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is classified as either wet (neovascular), or dry (non-neovascular). Dry AMD accounts for about 90 percent of all AMD cases.

In wet macular degeneration new vessels form to improve your blood supply to oxygen-deprived retinal tissue. But these new vessels are very delicate and break easily, causing bleeding and damage to surrounding tissue.

Wet AMD is not considered as serious as the dry version, and there are a couple of conventional treatment methods available if you suffer from wet AMD, including laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy. Laser photocoagulation can seal off leaking or bleeding vessels, hence preventing further vision loss; however it does not restore lost vision.

Photodynamic therapy is a more recent treatment, which can stop abnormal blood vessel growth in some cases of wet AMD, and it's far less damaging than laser photocoagulation. However, your best bet, and your least dangerous alternative, is to practice prevention -- or vision maintenance if you're already in the beginning stages of AMD -- through appropriate nutrition.

How to Prevent Macular Degeneration, or Reduce Further Vision Loss

This is not the first study to hail the benefits of nutrition to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For example, Dr. Stuart Richer, OD, PhD, at the North Chicago Veterans Medical Center, painstakingly documented that macular degeneration can be reversed with nutritional supplements and dietary changes.

Following my dietary recommendations, based on your nutritional type, is one of your best ways to help prevent this cause of blindness, and will automatically limit or eliminate your intake of grains and sugars.

Lutein (LOO-teen) is a cartenoids found in vegetables and fruits. Lutein is just as important to health, or more so, than beta-carotene. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells against the damaging effects of free radicals.

a.. Lutein is not made in the body.
b.. Lutein must be obtained from food or vitamin supplements.
c.. Lutein is found in large amounts in green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, and in raw egg yolks.
It has been found that people who eat large amounts of fruits and vegetables have a 43 percent risk reduction of age-related macular degeneration. Fortunately, lutein is easy to add to your diet if you eat plenty of spinach and other green, leafy vegetables, as well as raw egg yolks.

It is important to note that lutein is an oil-soluble nutrient, and if you merely consume the vegetables without some oil (like olive oil) or butter, your body can't absorb the lutein.

In addition to optimizing your lutein intake by eating plenty of leafy greens, these simple strategies can also help protect you from onset, or worsening vision loss:

1. Never wear UV-blue blocking sunglasses when outdoors in daylight, we require exposure to all wavelengths of sunshine to remain healthy.

2. Eat sulfur-rich foods, such as garlic, eggs, asparagus, and onions

3. Eat natural food products, like blueberries, that are high in phytochemical antioxidants

4. A daily food supplement regimen that includes:

a.. Omega-3 krill oil or fish oil providing 1000 mg of DHA
b.. lutein (6-12 mg)
c.. vitamin E (200-400 IU)
d.. selenium (organic, nor selenate or selenite) 200 mcg
e.. vitamin B12, 300 mcg
f.. magnesium 400 mg
g.. vitamin C 500-2000 mg
h.. bilberry 120-240 mg
i.. sulfur-bearing nutrients (glutathione, lipoic acid, N-acetyl cysteine or taurine)
5. Avoid high-dose calcium supplements without balancing magnesium

6. Avoid these fats, which are in most processed, store-bought foods and fried foods:

a.. trans fats / hydrogenated fats (vegetable oil) that interfere with the omega-3 fats
b.. monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats
7. Avoid very low-fat diets, which robs the retina of omega-3 fats."