The retina lines the back of your eye, and one area, called the macula, provides you with the central vision you need to read, drive and perform other tasks. The macular cells transmit visual information the brain interprets as an image. Damage to these cells is an eye disease called macular degeneration, a condition that often leads to permanent vision loss. Many people look to foods and supplements such as elderberries to help prevent this devastating condition.
Elderberries
Elder trees produce elderberries, a fruit that, when ripe, appears black. You should not eat raw elderberries since the chemicals in the fruit have a similar makeup as cyanide, a poison that can lead to death. To ingest elderberries, you must first cook the berries. The components of elderberry also have medicinal qualities that may offer some help for conditions such as inflammation. In addition, elderberry contains antioxidants and, in theory, elderberry could have some benefits in preventing damage to the macula.
Use
Your doctor may not recommend elderberry as a beneficial prevention method for macular degeneration, and this stems mostly from the potential side effects from the berries. Ingesting elderberries may result in stomach upset, weakness and dizziness. If your doctor does recommend elderberry, she will not recommend long-term use. This will help reduce your risk for side effects.
Nutrients
In addition to the antioxidant benefits of certain herbal supplements, nutrients may also have beneficial effects in preventing macular degeneration. The National Eye Institute conducted a study and released the results in 2001. Researchers determined that vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc can prevent advanced damage from this disease. The research also recommends a small dose of copper since high zinc intake may cause a copper deficiency. Other potentially beneficial nutrients include omega-3 fatty acids, zeaxanthin and lutein.
Considerations
Do not use elderberries without first talking with your doctor about the potential risks associated with the fruit. Your doctor can help you formulate a plan for prevention, particularly if you have a risk for the disease. Some over-the-counter supplements contain the nutrients that may help prevent macular degeneration, and your doctor may recommend this as the best known prevention for the eye condition.
