Glaucoma is one of the most difficult eye diseases to treat. Once you have it, theres not much you can do to stop it. The best solution is prevention. And you can reduce your risk by up to 95%. Heres how:
Researchers have told us for decades that the best way to prevent glaucoma is by eating a lot of vegetables. Ive always believed that to be the case. And Ive seen the benefit in my own eyes. My pressures are 9 and 10 — quite low. Now theres new research that confirms what we have known for years.
A new study shows that you can slash the risk of glaucoma by 69% simply by eating one serving per month of green collards and kale compared to none. Two servings per week of carrots will reduce your risk by 64% compared to less than one serving per week. And even canned peaches can help. Both canned and dried peaches (one serving per week) reduced glaucoma by 47% compared to less than one serving per month. Imagine if everyone ate large amounts of green leafy veggies and fruit rich in phytochemicals every day. I predict wed see a 95% reduction in the occurrence of this disease.
This study was performed on 1,155 older women, of whom 95 had glaucoma in at least one eye. So they were at a very high risk. It also gives hope that this is the best way to treat glaucoma as well. It may not cure it. But it may stop the progression — or at least slow it down.
We see similar results in cataracts. A study on north Indian subjects over 50 found much higher risk of cataracts in those with lower levels of the following nutrients: vitamin C, zeaxanthin, alpha carotene, and retinol (vitamin A). Vitamin E levels were not a factor.
And a third study found that deficiencies specifically of beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, folic acid, iron, phytate, and polyphenols raised oxidative stress damage in the lens.
I told you long ago about Canadian research showing the best treatment for glaucoma is a vegetable-based diet. Now we see modern research proving the same. You wont find these incredible vision-sparing nutrients in animal products. Not only are my pressures exceedingly low, but my optometrist told me that my macula looks 25 years younger than my chronological age. With my fathers history of macular degeneration, you can be sure I am happy with that news. This is all the more reason to make a good diet your number one prevention and treatment strategy for most any health problem.
Ref: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2008 April 17; Am J Ophthalmol, 2008 March 19; Clin Nutr, 2008 March 12.