Too much red meat can compromise eyesight, active living

The benefits of cutting down on red meat are widely known and most have to do with heart health. However, researchers in Australia found that those who ate more than 10 servings of red meat per week increased the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 50 percent and hindered active living, AARP.com reports.


Conversely, eating more chicken resulted with a 50 percent decrease in the risk of AMD.

Researchers claim that the reason red meat can harm eyesight is becuase it is rich in iron so it may increase oxidative stress on the eyes.


"From a nutritional standpoint, chicken is considered a healthier meat - and there is good evidence that a diet for heart health is also good for your eyes as well as other diseases of aging," ophthalmologist Paul Bernstein told the news source.


Experts also recommend eating plenty of fish, fruit and nuts to maintain good eye health.


According to the American Optometric Association, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50. The Centers for Disease control says that approximately 1.8 million American's suffer from the disease with another 7.3 million at risk.


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