Tag: Mediterranean Diet

What should I be eating or not eating to hopefully slow the progression of AMD?

Question: what should I be eating or not eating to hopefully slow the progression of AMD?

Answer: Research showed that those who followed a Mediterranean diet had a 41% reduced rate of development and progression to late AMD. You can read about the research by going to ‘Mediterranean Diet and Incidence of Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The EYE-RISK Consortium.’ 

Does that apply to those who already have AMD?
This is from the AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology) ‘New Study Confirms Mediterranean Diet Prevents a Leading Cause of Blindness’:
“SAN FRANCISCO – September 30, 2018 – Evidence is mounting that a poor diet plays an important role in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the United States. A large collaboration of researchers from the European Union investigating the connection between genes and lifestyle on the development of AMD has found that people who adhered to a Mediterranean diet cut their risk of late-stage AMD by 41 percent. This research expands on previous studies and suggests that such a diet is beneficial for everyone, whether you already have the disease or are at risk of developing it. “
The Mediterranean way of eating has also been shown to be beneficial for our hearts and our brains.
Is eating this way the ONLY thing I need to do to slow my progression?
When we talk about diet, we are not trying to say that it’s the ‘magic wand’ to managing AMD. It’s one factor in a list of other lifestyle factors that are important.
Don’t beat yourself up if your diet hasn’t been healthy or healthy enough – diet alone did NOT cause your AMD! The good news is that it’s never too late to make changes. Just be patient, it takes the body time to adjust. You’ll find more information about the many risk factors for the development and progression of AMD in ‘Did I do something? Will I get it if Dad had it? What can I do to slow it down?
What specifically is the Mediterranean Diet for AMD?
One thing we need to know is what EXACTLY is a Mediterranean diet for managing AMD? Is it the Mediterranean way of eating with lots of olive oil and pasta? Not exactly.
There are 2 basic components: 1) foods to include and 2) foods to avoid. The article ‘Eating for Your Eyes: Mediterranean Diet & Macular Degeneration’ is the best one I’ve found. Not only does it tell us what to include and what to avoid, it tells us how much we should be eating in each category. [This site has disappeared, but luckily I copied it! I am trying to track down the optometrist who created on the site optomeyeslife].
The articles says, “Are you interested in trying the Mediterranean diet? These tips will help you get started.”
  1. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Aim for at least 6 to 7 servings each day (2.5 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit daily).
  2. Opt for whole grains. Aim for 5 to 6 servings each day. Switch to whole-grain bread, cereal and pasta. Whole grains include couscous, bulgur wheat, and brown or wild rice.
  3. Use healthy fats. Use olive oil instead of butter or margarine. Avoid peanut, safflower, corn, and soybean oils.
  4. Spice it up. Use garlic, herbs, and spices to season your meals and boost flavor.
  5. Eat seafood weekly. Aim for one to two servings per week.
  6. Limit red meat and poultry to one serving or less per week. If you eat meat, choose lean cuts and keep portions small.
  7. Eat dairy in moderation. Eat low-fat Greek or plain yogurt and small amounts of a variety of cheeses.

GO BACK TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Can I Do to Slow the Progression of AMD?

There ARE things you can do to battle AMD. These are the recommendations backed by research. Since we don’t yet know what causes AMD in any individual, we don’t know which of these are more effective than others. We do know that there are many factors that influence the development and progression.

I have included a few self-help tips, too.

These are NOT in any order except for number 1.

Remain hopeful!! There is a lot in the pipeline–>http://www.retina-specialist.com/…/pipeline-update-whats-ex…

1. Don’t smoke. #4 and many others.

2. Risk of AMD is 50-70% genetic, the rest is age and lifestyle factors below. High genetic risk of AMD? Lifestyle factors such as nrs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 are important. #4

3. Follow the Mediterranean diet, on the low carb side, esp. low sugar. #4 #1 and others

4. As part of the Mediterranean diet, eat lots of colorful veggies, esp green and leafy which have important carotenoids in them. #4 #1 and others

5. Omega-3 supplementation? If one’s diet is rich in healthy oils, some nuts, and fish such as wild caught salmon, some say supplementation is not necessary. #4 #1 and others

6. Moderate aerobic exercise. #1 and others

7. Drink enough water to stay hydrated. #1 and others

8. Reduce stress. Although it is common to have depression & anxiety when you get the diagnosis (and can recur as you do your research, please seek help if you cannot move past this–especially if you have thoughts of harming yourself. #3 #16

9. Wear sunglasses when outside: polarized, blue block. #9

10. Working on the computer – use built-in screen colors to reduce blue light. There’s no firm evidence that electronic devices give off enough blue light to harm our eyes. It does affect our sleep which is important. #17

11. Maintain overall good health including maintaining a normal BMI, normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol. #4 and others

12. Moderate AMD or wet AMD in one eye but not the other? Take AREDS2 with zinc if you know you are NOT zinc sensitive (genetic test). If you don’t know or know that you ARE zinc sensitive, AREDS2 with no zinc. #2

13. Use an Amsler Grid or other monitoring systems. #5 #7 #8

14. If by using aids in nr. 13 & symptoms indicate that dry converted to wet, get treated with anti-VEGF as soon as possible. The earlier the treatment, the better the prognosis. #6

15. Have your eyes examined regularly (every 6 months advised) by a retinal specialist who is an ophthalmologist who specializes in diseases of the retina; write down your questions and take them to your next visit. #12

16. TIP: If you have vision impairment, find a low vision specialist who is an optometrist who specializes in evaluating vision and recommending low vision aids. There are also organizations and specialists who can advise you as to how to adapt your home or workplace. #13

17. TIP: Make sure you have enough light and provide contrast since AMD decreases the ability to detect contrast and increases the need for light.

18. TIP: Don’t drive if you are not safe to do so, especially those who have blind spots. You may not realize that you HAVE blind spots that could block your ability to see other cars or things along the road. #10

References

#1 Mediterranean diet reduces risk for AMD–>http://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/mediterranean-diet

# 2 AREDS/AREDS2: A Guide–>https://mymacularjournal.com/home/guide

#3 Can psychological stress cause vision loss?–>https://m.medicalxpress.com/…/2018-06-psychological-stress-…

#4 Macular Degeneration Epidemiology: Nature-Nurture, Lifestyle Factors, Genetic Risk, and Gene-Environment Interactions – The Weisenfeld Award Lecture–>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5749242/

#5 ForeseeHome–>https://www.foreseehome.com/

#6 VIDEO: Registry shows early detection of wet AMD helps patients maintain better vision–>https://www.healio.com/…/video-registry-shows-early-detecti…

#7 KeepSight monitoring tools->http://internationalmacularandretinalfoundation.org/keepsi…/

#8 How to Use the Amsler Grid–>https://www.brightfocus.org/mac…/article/how-use-amsler-grid

#9 How to Choose Sunglasses–>http://www.webrn-maculardegeneration.com/sunglasses-and-mac…

#10 Mailbox or Child with self-test–https://mymacularjournal.com/home/mailbox-child

#11 Macular Degeneration: Frequently Asked Questions–>https://www.brightfocus.org/…/macular-frequently-asked-ques…

#12 Ten Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Macular Degeneration–>https://www.macular.org/ten-questions-ask-your-doctor

#13 How Low Vision Services Can Help You–>https://www.brightfocus.org/…/how-low-vision-services-can-h…

#14 Low Vision Rehabilitation and Low Vision Aids–>https://www.aao.org/…/diseas…/low-vision-aids-rehabilitation

#15 Reflecting on ‘grief’ after losing my vision–>http://www.blindintuition.com/reflecting-on-grief/

#16 Highlight: Is depression following the diagnosis of AMD normal?–>https://mymacularjournal.com/archives/5923

#17 Blue light hastens vision loss? ‘Not so fast,’ —>http://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/blue-light-transforms-molecules-?refer=rss

Hawaiian Eye

Memorial Day evening. Thus endeth another holiday weekend. I did not get my to do list ‘ta done’ but it was a respectable effort and I am done. Time to kick back just a bit. [Lin/Linda: couldn’t find a formal definition of ‘ta done’ but I guess you could say it’s the past tense of ‘ta do’ – I found headlines with variations of “From Ta Do to Ta Done!”]

We got the pool semi-clean and in working condition. We have not put the diving board up in years but the pegs for it are still there. I kicked one so hard yesterday I broke most of the nail off of “this little piggy had none”.

Ouch. Those pegs have now been spray painted a lovely, brilliant white. Contrast, my dears, contrast. No more mangling little piggies.

Here I am on a stem cell kick. I go to see the good doctor this week and I am ever hopeful I will get into a stem cell study. I have to wonder – with the fantastic results they seem to be getting with RPEs lined up and supported on a ‘patch’ – if the studies that just inject the stem cells will be stopped and reworked. The Astellas study I am signed up for is one of the ‘squirt them in’ sort. Slightly discouraging but the wait might be worth it if results will be better. [More about the studies Sue is signed up for in her page The Waiting Game.]

I am not the only one who is thinking about regenerative medicine. The injunctions I mentioned last time appear to be part of a concerted effort by the FDA. The FDA is hoping to generate some standards for stem cell research. They are thinking standards will allow for greater levels of predictability in the outcomes. After all, if you undergo a treatment, you expect a certain result.

There are more than just one or two unregulated stem cell clinics out there. CNN (Predicting the Future, March 2018) quoted the number to be around 570! The main place these are located is Beverly Hills with New York City also having its fair share. The FDA is hoping to invite these into the fold. Play by the rules and the FDA will support your efforts.

And so as to not be too terribly one-sided, I should probably mention some of the stuff that happened at ARVO. ARVO is the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. They had their meeting in Honolulu and refer to it as Hawaiian Eye.

The TV show Hawaiian Eye ran from 1959 until 1963. Did you realize anyone under 55 never saw the original broadcasts?!? Gee, I wonder if they have to explain the reference to 90% of the attendees! I feel so old!?

Anyway, Genentech is developing a port delivery system to deliver Lucentis over the course of several months. They would implant this little reservoir thingee full of medication and greatly reduce the number of shots. This is in phase 2 so it will be awhile.

The Mediterranean Diet is good for pretty much everything that ails you, including AMD. The study cited suggested a reduction of 39% in the progression to advanced AMD. Remember that generally means they are reducing the chances of turning wet. Wet AMD and geographic atrophy are the two forms of advanced AMD.

Gotta go. I will let you know if anything happens at my appointment.

Written May 29th, 2018

Next: The Waiting Game Continues

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Highlight: What foods should I be eating for good eye health?

Nutrition for Good Eye Health – the Basics

Disclaimer

Eye Healthy Nutrients

Click here for a good place to start to learn about aspects of nutrition that have been recommended for good eye health.

 

<–Click on the photo for a larger image.

Click here for more details from AOA (American Optometic Association) about this infographic.

 

 

 

Click here for a printable grocery list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diet Plans for Good Eye Health

            • not listed in any particular order; we aren’t making any recommendations & we make no money on the sale of any of the products below.
            • Macular Degeneration Diet and Prevention Plan by Dr. Stuart Richer, OD, PhD, Ocular-Nutrition Laboratory in DVA Medical Center Eye Clinic, North Chicago, IL
            • Eyefoods has a diet plan that you can learn about in their book, on their website, Facebook page or blog
            • Eat For Your Sight Cookbook from the AMDF (American Macular Degeneration Foundation), the cookbook is available here or through amazon.com
            • Mediterranean Diet for eye health
            • Anti-inflammatory Diet
            • Cure AMD, proposed eating plan (based on ‘ancestral diet’) to prevent AMD and reverse it in its early stages.  I’ve corresponded with the author & expressed my concern about his use of the word ‘cure’.  He said he believes so strongly on his research that he could not use any other title.
      • Disclaimer:  We have a standard disclaimer that no one reads ::smile:: so I just want to remind you that we say in it:
        • Any information, books, products or any other materials at My Macular Degeneration  Journal/ey are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease, disorder or health condition, and is provided for educational purposes only.
        • Always consult your doctor with eye health questions about your specific medical conditions and before starting any diet, exercise, or supplement program.

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