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Cutting Carbs = Healthy Vision
June 2006 - Attention all women: Did you know that cutting carbohydrates out of your diet can not only help you lose those extra pounds, but can also help save your vision? According to the April issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a new study reveals that women who eat "low-glycemic index" foods, such as lentils and yams are at a lower risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) than women who eat diet rich "high-glycemic index" foods, such as bread or french fries.
In the study, researchers performed comprehensive eye exams on 500 women aged 53 to 73 and found that carbohydrates consumed over time cause a gradual breakdown of light sensitive cells in the region of the retina called the macula. This can lead to blindness or permanent vision loss.
"The likelihood of having abnormalities characteristic of AMD during the eye exams more than doubled for women who consumed diets with the highest glycemic index, regardless of other factors known or suspected to increase the risk of AMD such as age, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking and obesity," said Allen Taylor, who directs research on nutrition and vision at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston.
AMD currently affects 15 million Americans and is the leading cause of legal blindness in the United States. In the next 20 years, the number of people severely disabled by late-stage AMD is expected to increase by more than 50 percent.
But don't just rely on cutting carbs to prevent AMD - schedule regular eye exams with an eyecare professional. To find an eye doctor in your area, use Check Yearly's Doctor Locator to the left.