Chicken over beef for lower risk of macular degeneration

Eating chicken over beef isn’t just heart-healthy: it may also be the better choice for lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in people over age 60.

The findings are from Australian research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology with lead researcher Dr Elaine Chong, of the Centre for Eye Research Australia at the University of Melbourne.

After tracking the dietary and lifestyle habits of 6,700 Australians, ages 58 to 69, for four years and evaluating them for AMD 13 years later, the research found that eating 10 or more servings of red meat per week raised the risk of AMD by 50% compared with having five or fewer servings weekly.

However, eating chicken at least three times weekly was associated with a 50% reduced risk.

Another Australian study published in the May issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology found that regularly eating fish, nuts, olive oil and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids appears to lower risk for AMD.

A study published this month found that people who ate low-glycemic diets (i.e. low amounts of white bread, white rice and sweets) had lower risk of AMD as well. Despite the adage that carrots help vision, the researchers didn’t find that beta carotene lowered AMD risk.