Put down those chips! (Lifelines).You know that fats in processed foods can cause heart disease. But now a new study gives you another reason to avoid your favorite chips and cookies. A Harvard University professor recently studied patients at five of the country's largest ophthalmology centers, and found that those patients who consumed more processed foods on a daily basis were at high risk for age-related macular degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) Degeneration of the macula (the central part of the retina where the rods and cones are most dense) that leads to loss of central vision in people over 60. , the leading cause of blindness in people over age 65. And those eating foods highest in a type of fat known as linoleic acid linoleic acid /lin·o·le·ic ac·id/ (lin?o-le´ik) a polyunsaturated fatty acid, occurring as a major constituent of many vegetable oils; it is used in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and cell membranes. (found primarily in snack foods like potato chips) put people at an even higher risk. Macular degeneration macular degeneration, eye disorder causing loss of central vision. The affected area, the macula, lies at the back of the retina and is the part that produces the sharpest vision. is a 30- to 40-year process, so any lifestyle or dietary changes need to be made at an early age. But it's likely that if you're eating a lot of junk food, it's hurting you now in ways that won't become evident for a number of years. (Archives of Ophthalmology This article is about the journal published by the American Medical Association. For other journals and uses, see Ophthalmology (disambiguation). The Archives of Ophthalmology ) |
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