September 17, 2018 - Macular Degeneration
Hey folks, it’s Dr. Sam, and I want to talk to you today about macular degeneration.
So if you’ve just been to your eye doctor and you’ve been diagnosed with macular degeneration, usually you’re told it’s an aging issue and there’s not much you can do about it, and we’ll just watch it.
Understanding Macular Degeneration
So the macula is the part of the eye that contains something called cones, which are photoreceptors that help us with facial recognition, seeing detail, and distinguishing color.
Inside the macula, there’s a yellow pigment called zeaxanthin, which is a carotenoid. And surrounding the macula is another carotenoid called lutein. These carotenoids help protect your macula against the damaging sunlight, the ultraviolet (UV) light, and the blue light that’s emitted from digital devices.
Causes of Macular Degeneration
There may be a variety of contributing factors to macular degeneration, so I want to discuss those and give you several holistic strategies.
- One of the main causes is actually cataract surgery. And cataract surgery is actually a great surgery for some people and usually works really well. But the plastic lens that they put in your eye does not have the same protective properties from these damaging lights, which leaves your macula exposed. So you want to make sure that if you’ve had cataract surgery, you’re protecting your maculas with protective lenses.
- A second reason why we may develop macular degeneration is pharmaceutical use. Drugs like statins, steroids, antihistamines, and even antidepressants may negatively affect macula health.
- A third reason is oxidative stress. So in dry macular degeneration, the macula is drying out. And in wet macular degeneration, weak blood vessels are forming behind the macula. In both cases, the macula is not getting enough of the essential nutrients, which inhibits our ability to eliminate metabolic waste and causes oxidative damage. So without a doubt, eliminating inflammatory foods from your diet and eating a nutrient-rich diet, especially carotenoids and antioxidants, is very important.
- There is also an association between vascular disease and macular degeneration. So things like diabetes and hypertension are a sign that we are not getting enough circulation or nutrition.
- Inflammation is also a big contributor to macular degeneration. So if you’re having digestive issues, not absorbing your food properly, or have a chronic inflammatory response in the body, focus energy on reducing this inflammation in order to reduce oxidative stress. So again, focus on your dietary and lifestyle habits.
- And then using the computer if you’re using progressive lenses or bifocals, this means you’re only using a tiny part of the lens. This puts an incredible pressure on the macula to do the focusing, so naturally over time this wears the macula out and increases ocular stress.
How to Address Macular Degeneration Naturally
Diet and lifestyle are of course very important. So some things to consider include:
- Reducing stress levels
- Get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day.
- Wearing blue blocker lenses while on digital devices.
- Wear UV-blocking sunglasses while outside from 9am – 5pm.
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. This is one that is mostly a plant-based rainbow diet, that includes lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. Remember, lutein and zeaxanthin are very important for macular health. Remember to also eat plenty of healthful fats. These include avocados, MCT oils, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, and many wild-caught fish. These are really essential ingredients in protecting your macula and/or neutralizing some of the degeneration and in some cases maybe even improving it.
So the thing I want to leave you with is you don’t have to live out your doctor’s diagnosis – there are many things that you can do for macular degeneration. Even if you have been genetically tested positive. There are still some things you can do to improve macular health.
Well, that’s my message for today. I want to thank you so much for tuning in. And until next time take good care.
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