Macular Degeneration Diet
This diet will require some changes in your eating habits - but it will be worth it. Start by making a small change in just one area. Perhaps it will be to substitute brown rice for white rice or slow cooked oatmeal instead of cold cereal. According to Lylas G. Mogk, M. D. director of the Visual Rehabilitation and Research Center of Michigan, "Even if you already have
macular degeneration
, you may be able to slow its progress by the choices you make in the grocery store."
Ocular Nutrition
Never underestimate the power of good nutrition to give our bodies what it needs to heal and repair itself. The good news is that there is an increasing awareness of the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, low glycemic carbohydrates, and foods high in omega 3. There is plenty of research to support ocular nutrition for healthy vision. Dr. Michael Samuel, a macular degeneration specialist, writes in his book, Macular Degeneration: A Complete Guide for Patients and Their Families "Early dry AMD can be prevented, slowed or even reversed with diet and lifestyle changes."
Low Glycemic CarbsAllen Taylor, PhD, director of the Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University, examined the eyes of more than 500 women between 53 and 73 years of age.Taylor, who is also a nutrition, ophthalmology and biochemistry professor on the Tufts health sciences campus in Boston stated 
"The likelihood of having abnormalities characteristic of AMD on eye exam more than doubled for women who consumed diets with the highest glycemic index, regardless of other factors already known or suspected to increase the risk of AMD, such as age, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and obesity."In other words the type of carbohydrate that we eat does matter in a macular degeneration diet. If glycemic index is a new word or concept for you I suggest that you readSugar Busters! Quick & Easy Cookbook In a nutshell, foods that cause our blood sugar to spike which then results in an increase secretion of insulin, are harmful to our health and to our vision. To get a list of low glycemic carbs that are good for you click here: Low Glycemic Carbs Foods High in Omega 3Thanks to the low fat craze there is a lot of misinformed people - I was one of them. My thought was there is no such thing as a good fat.However, it is important to know two things when it comes to 
eating the right fats for a macular degeneration diet. √ What fats are healthy and good for you and √ What is the right ratio Most of you know that we need to avoid trans fats. But did you know that according to a 2001 Harvard study, that people whose diets had the right ratio (3:1) of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids had less macular degeneration than those whose diets were out of balance? It is very important to include oily fish in your macular degeneration diet to get more omega-3s. To read more about omega-3 benefits click here:
Omega 3 Benefits
Yet omega-3 provides critical protection to our retinas.So, how does one get the right ratio of fats in a macular degeneration diet? Foods High in Omega 3 ProteinMany essential vitamins and minerals are found in meat and nuts, like vitamin B6, B12 and zinc. Meat that is high in fat of course is damaging to our health.Foods to Avoid are: √ Roasted and Salted nuts √ Limit Red Meat to less than 3 times per month - and eat only lean cuts √ Fried chicken Foods to Include are: √ Eggs 
√ Unroasted Almonds√ Wheat Germ √ Chicken √ Turkey √ Unroasted Brazil Nuts √ Cold water fish such as salmon, cod, or haddock If you are just beginning with a macular degeneration diet, the best way to start is by making changes slowly. Make a decision in one area and stick to it for a couple of weeks and then make another change. Choose to incorporate foods that are most appealing and get rid of the foods in your cupboard that are harmful and tempting.
Antioxidant Foods
Antioxidant foods provide protection from free radical damage. Free radicals damage our bodies at the cellular level. Antioxidants help keep our bodies in oxidative balance so there is less damage to the cell membrane and the DNA. Free radical damage is a key player in aging and many degenerative diseases like macular degeneration.The benefits antioxidant rich foods are many and especially to the macula. Click here to read more:
Antioxidant Foods
Vitamins for Macular DegenerationDue to many factors, such as the way our food is processed, nutrients depleted from the soil, and harvesting food before they are ripe, much of our food does not contain the vitamins and minerals that they did years ago.Although it is preferable to get your vitamins and minerals from a good diet, it may not be possible to get all that we need without supplementing with vitamins for macular degeneration. Click here to read more:
Vitamins for Macular Degeneration
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. You may also go to www.glycemicindex.com for a complete listing.
