Brought to by: Melody Ann's from Lee Swanson Research
Generated July 8, 2010
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy are both diseases that can lead to blindness. While AMD usually affects the elderly, diabetic retinopathy can affect people of many ages.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says AMD “is an eye disease that affects the macula, a part of the retina. The retina sends light from the eye to the brain, and the macula allows you to see fine detail. AMD blurs the sharp central vision you need for straight-ahead activities such as reading, sewing and driving.”
“In some cases,” the NIH says, “AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years and older.
“On the other hand, “diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness,” according to the NIH. “It occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina in the back of the eye. If you have diabetic retinopathy, at first you may notice no changes to your vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.
“That leads me to my first report today. Researchers from St. Louis have found that resveratrol, the now-famous compound found in wine and other foods, may cut the risk of developing AMD and diabetic retinopathy. Read on to find out more about this stimulating study.
In other news, a study published in Phytotherapy Research has found success in using Pycnogenol® pine bark extract in curbing the symptoms of hay fever. See what researchers found out in my second report.
Lastly, researchers have discovered that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids found in sea buckthorn may be useful in supporting those who have problems with dry eyes. Check out report number three today. As always, I wish you the very best of health.
Lee Swanson
July 8, 2010
