Concentrated Fish Oil High In DHA Prevents Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is a growing problem among older adults. It involves the degeneration of vision in the center of the visual field. People who suffer from this condition can find it difficult or impossible to read and also to recognize faces. It can actually be quite debilitating. The good news is that it can be prevented with a simple and inexpensive supplement: concentrated fish oil.

The first thing we must consider is the cause of the condition. Although there are many theories coming from the medical establishment, there is definitely one thing that we can be sure of: nutrition plays a very important role in the development of macular degeneration. The retina of the eye needs high quality fats in order to function. A diet rich in bad fats, such as those from fast food and junk food, can damage the eyes severely over time. It has been found by several serious medical studies that consuming a large amount of omega 3 fatty acids can actually help to prevent the disease.

One such study, published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology, and conducted at Harvard Medical School, found that women with the highest consumption of DHA and EPA, the omega three fats found in fish and in concentrated omega 3 supplements, had 40% fewer cases of macular degeneration than the women with the lowest consumption of fish oil.

A similar, long-term study, also conducted by Harvard Medical School, followed more than 40,000 women and about 30,000 men for more than a decade. The results were almost identical to the previous study. Those who consumed low amounts of fatty fish had a 38% greater chance of developing macular degeneration.

The key ingredient in concentrated fish oil which protects the eyes is called docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. This wondrous substance is involved in building and nourishing the brain cells and the eyes. It is also effective in treating heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and many other conditions.

It is important to find a top-quality supplement of concentrated fish oil capsules with a very high DHA content. Most supplement manufacturers which have fish oil supplements on the market today are actually deceiving people. Their products contain small amounts of DHA and high amounts of EPA. This is the reverse of what we want. The reason for this situation is that EPA is a much cheaper ingredient.

I personally recommend a very specific, uncontaminated fish oil made with fish from the clean waters of New Zealand. This assures that the product you and your family is consuming is actually free of contaminants and has the right level of DHA for it to be effective in improving health and to prevent and treat macular degeneration in particular.