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Your Best Defense Against The Leading Cause of Blindness

http://blog.drdavidwilliams.com/blog/digestive-health-guidance/your-best-defense-against-the-leading-cause-of-blindness

Most people would agree that the gift of sight is one of our most precious possessions. Too often, though, we take it for granted, and start to worry only when vision starts to decline. The leading cause of blindness in our society is age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD involves a deterioration of the macula, a small, very sensitive area on the back inner portion your eye. If your macula becomes damaged, you lose the central portion of your vision. You’re not able to read fine print or focus on small details that, for instance, allow you to recognize faces.

Macular degeneration takes two forms. The most common is the dry form. Small blobs of fatty proteins are deposited in the macular region. These blobs block the small blood vessels feeding the macula, and choke off the vital oxygen and nutrients that supply this portion of the eye.

The wet form involves the invasion of new blood vessels into the macula. These new vessels leak fluid, which has no place to go. It remains in the eye until scar tissue forms, encapsulating the fluid and damaging the fragile macula.

Your best defense against developing AMD is to take these precautions:

* Don’t take aspirin regularly. Consistent use of aspirin can lead to small hemorrhages forming under the retina. 

* Avoid drugs, fake fats, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and the so-called “fat blockers” being sold as diet aids. Each of these substances pulls essential fatty acids out of your body like a magnet.

* Eat eggs. They are rich in carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin.

* Eat a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, nuts, and seafood.

* Take a high-quality multinutrient complex every day that provides antioxidants, fat-soluble vitamins, trace minerals, and other components necessary for good vision.

Now it’s your turn: Which of these healthy habits have you adopted?

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