Many older people develop macular degeneration as part of the body’s aging process. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that affects the macula, a part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail.  Age-related macular degeneration destroys sharp central vision. Central vision is what you see directly in front of you. It is the vision you need for everyday tasks such as reading, watching TV and driving. AMD affects as many as 15 million Americans with about 200.00 new cases every year. It never causes complete blindness, but can affect your daily lifestyle in many ways. In many cases the impact of macular degeneration on vision is minimal. Even people with more advanced cases continue to have some useful vision and are able to take care of themselves.

Studies indicate that people over the age of 60 are at greater risk for age-related macular degeneration than other age groups. it is the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness in people 55  years of age or older.  Because our life expectancy continues to increase, AMD has become one of the major public-health concerns.

Age is not the only risk factor. Smoking, obesity, family history, race and gender can also play a role in age-related macular degeneration. Whites are more prone to AMD than African Americans and women are more at risk than men. If someone in your family had AMD the odds of you developing the disease is higher. Exposure to cigarette smoke and smoking doubles your risk. People with light colored eyes are also at greater risk of developing the disease. Cardiovascular disease contribute to the risk, such as  high blood pressure,heart attack,coronary artery disease and stroke. Low levels of nutrients, minerals, zinc, antioxidants and vitamins A,C and E play a role in developing AMD. Antioxidants may well protect the cells from oxidation, which is responsible for the effects of aging and the development of disease. Although the exact causes of AMD are not fully understood, researchers may be getting closer to an effective way of preventing it. They believe that vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid may have a significant effect in slowing the progression of this disease. More studies need to be done  on the actual prevention of age-related macular degeneration.

Eating the right foods is essential to healthy eyes and will help you avoid or slow the progress down of  age-related macular degeneration.  Eat foods containing antioxidants.  The antioxidants and minerals found in green leafy vegetables and fish can help keep your eyes healthy and help prevent many diseases such as cancer and those affecting the heart and  immune system. Antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin E . These antioxidants can help prevent macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye diseases. Good sources of antioxidants are found in highly pigmented fruits and vegetables.  When choosing fruits and vegetables choose the ones with more color to them.  Fish is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and can also reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

It is also important to note that vitamin supplements are not a cure nor will they restore any of the vision you may have lost due to AMD.  The antioxidants  and vitamin supplements can reduce the impact by slowing down the progression of AMD.

Take a look at this you tube video for keeping your eyes healthy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NnEdcw6GhE[/youtube]

Stay healthy everyone,

ChucknGayle

Superfoods are packed with nutrients and are powerful enough to help you lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, and, for an added bonus, put you in a better mood. Did I mention that there are no side effects? You don’t even need specific foods for specific ailments. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer. Just think, anti-aging, delicious and most can be found right in your local grocery store. There are a lot of superfoods, one thing they have in common is that they are all unprocessed food. Some superfoods are hard to find because they are from remote places on earth.

You should not limit your diet to just superfoods. Other fruits and vegetables also have nutrients that are necessary for a healthy body. What makes certain fruits and vegetables special (superfoods) are the high concentration of phytonutrients found in them.

This  is a list of some of the best Superfoods;

*  Acai
* Avocado
* Bananas
* Barley
* Beans and Lentils
* Bilberries
* Buckwheat
* Camu Camu
* Green Foods
* Hot Peppers
* Kiwi
* Nuts and Seeds
* Sprouts
* Cranberries
* Beans
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Mangoes
* Oats
* Oranges
* Papaya
* Pomegranate Juice
* Pumpkin
* Red Grapes
* Salmon
* Soy
* Spinach
* Tea (green or black)
* Tomatoes
* Turkey
* Walnuts
* Yogurt
* Dark Chocolate

With the exception of a few of the rarer foods on the superfood list, you’ll provide yourself with a wealth of phytonutrients by eating a well-rounded diet that includes some of the superfoods and plenty of other fruits and vegetables.

Eat Super Well!

Chuck and Gayle

• Eat a healthy diet and follow the Healthy Eating Pyramid built by the faculty in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
• Choose plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.
• Eat fish and poultry rather than red meat, potatoes, sugary drinks and salty snacks.

The bottom line is that the body will not survive without vitamins. Think of your body as a machine. It needs fuel to keep it going. It does lots of incredible things, but it cannot make its own vitamins. Vitamins must come from the food we eat or the vitamin supplements we ingest. Vitamins become the “spark plugs” that keep this machine running smoothly, strengthen the immune system, increase the energy and slow down aging. Benefits we all want to enjoy. Aging bodies need these vitamin supplements more than ever. As we age the chances of suffering serious illness are greater and nutritional experts believe that poor eating habits contribute to many of these ailments. It is estimated that 30% of seniors lose the ability to make stomach acid and this will interfere with absorbing some nutrients, like B-12, B-6 and folic acid. As a result neurological changes take place like a decline in alertness, loss of memory and numbness of the extremities.

There are basically two kinds of vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. The fat-soluble ones are stored in your liver and in the fat tissues of your body until they are needed. Vitamins A, D, E and K are the fat -soluble vitamins. The water-soluble vitamins are the B complex ones and vitamin C. These vitamins are not stored, dissolve in water and are eliminated from your body by urination. Water-soluble vitamins can be destroyed or washed out during food preparation and even during food storage.

Take a look at some of the essential and widely recommended vitamins, what they are for and their sources.

VITAMIN A Vitamin A is one of the most essential vitamins for older adults 50+. Vitamin is critical for bone growth and a powerful antioxidant that keeps the immune system healthy. Sources for vitamin A are milk, butter, cheese, eggs, chicken, kidney, liver fish oils, mackeral, trout, herring,orange and yellow fruits and vegetables and dark green leafy vegetables.

VITAMIN B There is quite a large group of vitamin B. B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, biotin, folic acid and pantothenic acid. Vitamin B’s are vital nutrients for cell repair, digestion, production of energy and a healthy immune system. Foods that are rich in vitamin B12 are; meat and poultry, yeast extracts, asparagus, broccoli, fish and seafood, dried apricots, dates and figs. Vitamin B6 is found in avocado, herring, salmon, sunflower seeds and walnuts. Other foods rich in Vitamin B are; whole grains, eggs, dairy products, milk, yogurt, leafy green vegetables and beans and peas.

VITAMIN C Vitamin C is another important vitamin critical for old age. It reduces cholesterol levels and helps regulate blood pressure. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, heals wounds efficiently, keeps body tissues in good shape, and is important in immune system function and collagen formation. It is the most potent antioxidant vitamin. Vitamin C is found in fish, fruits and vegetables such as oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, kiwi fruit and sweet red peppers.

Vitamin D The sunshine vitamin is known as the “new wonder drug”. Vitamin D is the best supplement for all ages young and old. The body needs this vitamin to absorb calcium. It is the vitamin we need for strong bones, to prevent osteoporosis and for strong teeth.New findings indicate that you can get your daily intake of vitamin D by spending 20 minutes in the sun. Vitamin D can also be found in milk, figs, eggs, liver and fortified cereal. Watch this interesting report on Vitamin D we found on YouTube.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0BgxNstkFI[/youtube]

VITAMIN E Vitamin E is essential for human life, everyone needs this vitamin. It is vitally important for older individuals and is the best supplement known as an antioxidant vitamin. Vitamin E can be found in whole grains, wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, sardines, egg yolks, nuts and seeds.

VITAMIN K Vitamin K is important for the function of blood clotting in the body. It is also linked to preventing Alzheimers disease in the elderly. Vitamin K is essential for kidney functioning and bone calcification. Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables, dairy products, broccoli, brussel sprouts and soybean oil.

VITAMINS or NOT ? We say yes to vitamins and supplements. Get them in the foods you eat and take supplements for deficiencies. They are the essential nutrients to keep your body humming. Remember it is always wise to check with your doctor before taking vitamins just in case they react to any medications you may be taking. Your doctor is also your best guide for helping you choose the vitamins that you need.

HAPPY ANTI-AGING EVERYONE,

Chuck and Gayle