The benefits of the Mediterranean diet are countless. With its recipes rich in fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes, unrefined grains and olive oil, it is already associated with a reduced incidence of heart disease and cognitive decline. And new qualities should still be attributed to it. A study published on October 1 in the magazine Ophthalmology shows that this diet could prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50. According to estimates, 25 to 30% of people over 75 suffer from it. A degenerative eye disease, it gradually causes visual impairment by affecting one or both eyes. It can thus be disabling on a daily basis, as it affects the central vision essential for daily activities, such as the ability to see faces, read or drive. There are two forms. The wet guy, who has effective medication. And dry AMD, which affects between 80% and 90% of sufferers and is currently untreated.
An overall nutrient-dense diet
For this study, the researchers relied on data from two European surveys. The first research assessed disease risk in people aged 55 and over, while the second looked at the association between eye disease and nutritional factors in people over 73. The researchers finally analyzed the food frequency questionnaires of nearly 5,000 people who took part in these two surveys. They found that participants who closely followed the Mediterranean diet had a 41% lower risk of developing AMD, compared to those who adopted a different diet.
However, they found that none of the individual components of the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of this blinding disease. It is the overall diet, with the combination of nutrient-rich ingredients that allows prevention.
“You are what you eatexplains to Science Daily Emily Chew, spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology who sits on the research group’s advisory board. I think it’s a public health problem just like smoking. Chronic diseases such as AMD, dementia, obesity and diabetes are all rooted in poor eating habits. It’s time to eat healthy and quit smoking. »
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