Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods and can be made in our body when exposed to the sunrays. Among older Americans, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss, with more than 25 million people worldwide suffering from it. AMD occurs when part of the retina deteriorates. Because AMD affects the central portion of vision, it impacts daily activities like driving, reading and doing close work. People with early AMD are associated with lower levels of vitamin D in their blood. Including vitamin D in your lifestyle can help keep you from being a part of this affected group.While there’s no substitute for vitamin D obtained through sunlight, you can get vitamin D through a variety of foods including milk, cold-water fish such as red sockeye salmon, sardines or cod liver oil and other foods containing essential fatty acids, as well as nutritional supplements. Omega-3 is the most well known essential fatty acid, which can be found in avocado, salmon, tuna and dark leafy vegetables.
