January 30, 2018 - Stargardt's
Howdy folks, it’s Dr. Sam and I want to talk to you for a minute about Stargardt’s disease.
Stargardt’s is a type of age-related macular degeneration, but it occurs in children and is caused by a gene mutation.
In terms of dietary changes, you want to use carotenoids that do not convert to beta-carotene and vitamin A, because this can actually make Stargardt’s worse.
So here are 4 carotenoids that I recommend: Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Lycopene, and Astaxanthin. These are 4 carotenoids that do not convert to vitamin A, so they would be fine to ingest.
I would also recommend a more plant-based diet – reduce the proportion of eats, carbohydrates, and sugars.
Supplementing with omega-3 fish oil can also be very helpful – DHA is great for Stargardt’s disease.
Last but not least, be sure to protect your eyes with sunglasses that protect from UV radiation and use blue-light blocking lenses while using digital devices.