Omega-3 Good For Vision

A new study published in The Archives of Ophthalmology suggests that women who consume more omega-3 fatty acids reduce their chances of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the most common cause of vision loss in the developed world and the leading cause of blindness in Americans over the age of 50. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids, meaning they are necessary for our health, but our bodies are unable to produce them ourselves and, therefore, must obtain them from the foods we consume. The two most studied omega-3 fatty acids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In the current study, the risk of AMD was 38% lower in women with the top one-third DHA intake, compared to those with the bottom one-third intake. The risk for women who consumed a lot of EPA was 34% lower. In order to get enough DHA and EPA in your diet, the current recommendation (for people without a history of heart disease) from the American Heart Association is to consume cold water fish at least twice a week. In particular, fatty fish are recommended. These include anchovies, bluefish, carp, catfish, halibut, herring, lake trout, mackerel, pompano, salmon, striped sea bass, tuna (albacore), and whitefish. Omega-3 supplements are also available in pill form over the counter. [via Medical News Today and Mayo Clinic]

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