Benefits of Consuming Beta-carotene
Author: Ham Pato
The consumption of foods rich in antioxidants like beta carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc slows the aging process and therefore help prevent the elderly by age-related blindness, said Dr. Charles Wong Cam, director Wong Eye Institute on the occasion of World Sight Day.
He added that several studies conducted worldwide have shown that antioxidants found in certain foods prevent blindness from muscular degeneration associated with aging by combating free radicals (resulting from the degeneration and death of cells), causing the process aging and cardiovascular diseases, as well as diabetes and cancer.
“Because the body does not have sufficient capacity to counteract the effects caused by free radicals is necessary to have a diet rich in antioxidants and these nutrients are found in foods of daily consumption such as fruits and vegetables,” said Dr. Wong, who recently received from Congress an award for his career.
Muscular degeneration (MD) is an eye disorder that affects 11% of older people and is characterized by progressive deterioration of the central part of the retina (macula) which causes partial blindness. People with this loss of central vision, therefore, find it difficult to read, recognize faces and perform various activities of daily living, but eventually also lose peripheral vision and be totally in the dark.
Despite the great advances in medicine at present no treatment exists to reverse the DM. Therefore, the results of the research on the benefits of antioxidants are important because they leave open the possibility to preserve vision by preventing this disease.
It is recalled that in developed countries the DM is the leading cause of blindness along with diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, unlike poor countries where the cataract is the leading cause.
Where are they?
According to research beta carotene, zinc (mineral) and vitamins C and E reduced by up to 30% risk for macular degeneration. These nutrients include meat and fish, as well as in plants.
Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, eggs and nuts such as walnuts. Most zinc is meat, fish, as well as whole grains and dairy. While green peppers, broccoli, potatoes, oranges and other citrus fruits are good sources of vitamin C.
Vegetables like cauliflower, spinach, basil, carrot, tomato, watercress, purslane and squash contain high amounts of beta carotene.
On the other hand, Dr. Wong said that to prevent blindness is important for people over 40 undergo an eye check every year to prevent or detect early any problems that may cause eye partial or total loss of vision.
World Sight Day
The “World Sight Day” which is held the second Thursday of October, is a global initiative that aims by 2020 to have eliminated all cases of avoidable blindness.
The theme this year “Eyes on the Future” will highlight the impact of blindness and visual impairment in older people. Therefore it is dedicated to the aging of the eye, vision, and impairment in this population group.
Various international institutions engaged in the fight against vision difficulties recognize that in a world where populations are aging and people are living longer, blindness from chronic conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma is also increasing