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The Retina is the Highest Oxygen Consuming Tissue of the Body: What Does That Mean for Your Vision?
June 24, 2020
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The Retina is the Highest Oxygen Consuming Tissue of the Body

What Does That Mean for Your Vision?

Did you know that the retina is the highest oxygen-consuming tissue of the body? According to the January 17, 2003 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry "... the relative oxygen consumption of the mammalian retina is higher than that of the brain and other tissues. It is assumed that, on a per gram basis, the retina is one of the highest oxygen demanding tissues of the human body."



Because the many visual functions of the retina require large amounts of oxygen there is also a high degree of oxidation which means that the retina is very vulnerable to free radical damage. Dr. Neal Adams, eye surgeon and author of Healthy Vision: Prevent and Reverse Eye Disease through Better Nutrition, writes, "I see what oxidation does to your eyes firsthand. Although free radical and oxidants cause damage to your entire body, oxidants truly wreak havoc on the eye..."

Prevent and Repair Retinal Degeneration

These free radicals cause damage to our eyes resulting in eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. Foods high in antioxidants fight to prevent and repair the damage caused by these rogue electrons.


Perhaps like me you need a reminder of how important it is to include antioxidant rich foods in your diet. From fruits and vegetables to green tea and raw cacao, get a list of foods that are most able to fight oxidative damage going on in your eyes:

Antioxidant Foods to Fight Free Radical Damage

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Better Health for Better Vision

www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com

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