The Value Of A Good 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.

Research into this condition shows that supplements may help. Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can slow the progression of both kinds of AMD. Although the studies are interpreted to show that nutrients can't prevent the disease, many people may choose to start taking supplements early. All of the nutrients said to help AMD are good for total bodily wellness, anyway.

The list of recommended nutrients includes vitamins A, C, and E. If you look at the research, remember that a study using natural forms of nutrients may be more reliable than ones using synthetic vitamins. Benefits of natural dietary aids are invariably greater than those of man-made replicas. The study that said smokers should avoid beta-carotene, for instance, is considered flawed, but it also used a synthetic form of this nutrient.

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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