Keep your vision sharp with the help of this highly-coveted, savory spice
If the center of your vision ever becomes fuzzy or won’t focus, call your doctor or an eye care professional immediately. This is one of the reddest “red flags” you can come across…
The most important word in that last sentence is “immediately.” If you act quickly, time is on your side. And with the proper care, you can stop or at least significantly slow vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — the most common cause of blindness.
Regular eye exams can also catch AMD before you notice any symptoms. This is the optimal time to work toward pumping the brakes on this vision-robbing condition, so be sure to schedule them annually.
Today, I’ll review some basic steps you can take to stop the progression of AMD in just a moment. But first, we’ll look at a new People’s Pharmacy report about a nutrient-rich botanical which can aid in these efforts.
The report reveals a field of study that’s been quietly building momentum for several years. Based on case-study evidence, several clinical trials have produced consistent and impressive results in utilizing saffron to treat AMD.
Saffron is best known as a spice that’s harvested from the saffron crocus flower. But most cooks who use it for flavor are probably unaware that saffron contains multiple antioxidant carotenoids (like lycopene and zeaxanthin) as well as B vitamins, vitamin C, and a host of nutritious minerals that include selenium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.
And all of that adds up to — literally — a feast for the eyes.
In a 2012 study, Italian researchers gave a saffron supplement (20 mg daily) to 29 older patients who were in the early stage of AMD. At the end of the three-month intervention, participants’ macular function improved, and follow up examinations nearly one year later showed that the improvements were still holding strong.
More recently, a 2016 study from Iran recruited 60 people with wet or dry AMD. (Although both wet and dry are advanced stages of the disease, wet AMD is the most dangerous variety, due to abnormal blood vessels that develop in the retina).
Participants were randomly assigned a placebo or a daily saffron supplement of 30 mg per day. Three types of eye exams were used to track changes from baseline to three months and to the end of the study at six months.
As in the Italian study, significant retinal function improvement was detected in the intervention group, with a vast majority of the benefits persisting well after the intervention period.
A third study in the People’s Pharmacy report showed similar outcomes with 20 mg saffron supplement taken daily.
If you’re ever diagnosed with AMD it should be easy to talk to your doctor about using a saffron supplement because dietary supplements should be a key part of any AMD therapy regime. Thanks to the stellar results of the National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), most doctors will recommend these daily supplements:
- Vitamin C — 500 mg
- Vitamin E — 400 IU
- Zinc (as zinc oxide) — 80 mg
- Copper (as cupric oxide) — 2 mg
- Lutein — 10 mg
- Zeaxanthin — 2 mg
Other research has shown that regular exercise and avoidance of smoking reduce AMD risk and make for better outcomes if AMD develops. And as you might suspect, food choices are also important. As I mentioned in an article I sent you last summer, studies reveal that a low glycemic diet (that is, low on added sugars and simple carbs) can also help prevent AMD and slow the progression of the disease.
There are few things more frightening than the prospect of losing your vision as you enter your golden years. It’s reassuring to know that so many simple precautions can help us avoid that fate.
SOURCES
Will Precious Saffron Save Your Eyesight?
People’s Pharmacy
January 29, 2018
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3407634/
A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Saffron Supplementation in Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Sustained Benefits to Central Retinal Function
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
July 18, 2012
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5342880/
Short-term Outcomes of Saffron Supplementation in Patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Trial
Medical Hypothesis, Discovery & Innovation Ophthalmology
Spring 2016
https://nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts
Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration
National Eye Institute
September 2015