A recent study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology demonstrated a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration with the consumption of omega-3 fatty acid. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the primary cause of blindness in seniors. Researchers, using data from the Women's Health Study, tracked over 38,000 female health professionals for a 10 year period. They found that women who had the greatest consumption of DHA and EPA, omega-3 fatty acids, were 38-42% less likely to develop AMD. In general, their findings concluded that the women were eating canned tuna fish and dark-meat fish, one or more servings per week. Don't like to eat fish? Try flax oil on your salad, fish oil capsules or walnuts (also high in omega-3 fatty acids).
Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Fish intake and Incident Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women, Archives of Ophthalmology. March 14, 2011 Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
*Picture of the retina above demonstrating macular degeneration.
