July 24th, 2010 
admin 5. Avoid Cataracts With Proper Diet
While carrots have long been regarded as good for the eyes, it is actually other foods that offer some protection against Cataracts. Specifically, scientists from research institutions including Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that women who consumed the most dark or yellow leafy green vegetables had an 18% lower risk of developing Cataracts than did women who ate the least or none of these vegetables.
In a related study, researchers found that the antioxidant ingredients contained in both these vegetables and in eggs along with other ingredients in eggs has a potential to significantly reduce the risks for developing Cataracts. If eggs and vegetables are not part of an individual’s diet, they should be considered.
6. Dietary Supplements Protect Against Cataracts
Where such beneficial nutrients cannot be obtained in sufficient quantity directly from foods, supplements are an important means to add these nutrients to our diets. A study from Tufts University found that regular use of both vitamins B and E were significant in reducing the risks of Cataracts.
A lesser-known supplement also found in lab studies to reduce Cataract risk was the antioxidant carnosine. In their research at the University of Palermo, researchers found that the supplement reduced the amount of cloudiness in the lens by 50 to 60%. While it has not yet been tested when taken in pill form, taking the supplement with support from one’s doctor is a prudent step for reducing Cataract risk.
Last, but certainly not least, the highly touted and more highly promoted extract of red wine, resveratrol is also beneficial for prevention of Cataracts. From research involving the National Institutes of Health and a number of other research institutions, scientists determined that mice fed resveratrol supplements had fewer Cataracts in old age. The reduction in Cataract rates was directly linked to the amount of the supplement consumed.
Conclusions
While aging is, at this stage in human history, inevitable, medical science is making living at an older age more livable. When it comes to Cataracts and age-related vision loss, there are a number of options for individuals to take in order to reduce their risk. Knowledge is power and increasingly, medical science is putting more information in our hands. Taking advantage of this knowledge gives us each the power to have a bright future.
If you have experienced cataract surgery, consider sharing your experiences in the health forums.
Related Links
http://www.rila.co.uk/issues/free/001/2001/v4n2/p61_65/p61_65.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19628496
http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2008/0417-sharma-cataracts.php
http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2004a/0412.dtl#cataracts
http://www.thirdage.com/skin-deep/top-five-ways-to-sunblock-your-eyes-this-summer
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8822.php
http://newscenter.lbl.gov/press-releases/2009/02/09/vision-loss/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/04/050419094700.htm
https://www.arvo.org/EWEB/dynamicpage.aspx?WebCode=PressTemplate&wps_key=c0097ebf-55ca-448f-81b4-600fe16459e9
http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/126/1/102
http://www.defeatdiabetes.org/Articles/food041215.htm
http://nutrition.tufts.edu/docs/NutritionNotes/2005-07.html#cataracts
http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/bi900343n
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/03/wine-aging.html?ref=rss
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