(www.PreserveMacForte.com) Eating watermelon can help to prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reported The Canadian on October 24.

According to the article, consuming watermelon, which is known to have anti-aging properties due to its antioxidants, can help to ward off blindness-causing AMD or at least slow down the progression of the eye condition. An eye ailment that generally impacts only those who are older than 50, AMD destroys the central vision. People who have AMD could have difficult driving, reading or watching TV.

According to the article, watermelon has a substantial water content and contains lycopene, vitamin C and carotenes. The article cited nutritionists as saying that watermelon also has potassium, B1, magnesium and B6. In addition to having AMD-fighting properties, watermelon can help people to shed some pounds, prevent heart disease and even can prevent erectile dysfunctions.

Those who didn’t know that a refreshing fruit such as watermelon could help to prevent AMD — not to mention various other conditions — might also not realize that fruit on a whole can help to protect their eyesight. Which means that multiple servings of fruit should  eaten daily by those who want to stay healthy and minimize their risks for getting diseases.

Previous research suggests that those who each day ate three or four fruit servings over a time span of 12 to 18 years lessened their odds of getting AMD by over 30% compared to those who each day consumed 1.5 or fewer fruit servings. Some sources actually suggest that consuming more fruits, vegetables and nuts can reduce the rate at which AMD progresses by up to 20%. So while eating lots of fruit doesn’t necessarily mean that AMD won’t result, the research demonstrates that it can at least slow down the eye condition’s progression.

It goes without saying that those who decide to eat right should also do the right thing in other areas to further decrease their risks of getting AMD. This would mean adopting a holistic health strategy that includes being physically active on a regular basis, avoiding harmful habits such as drinking and smoking, and steering clear of hypertension by watching salt intake and managing stress properly.

Read More: http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/news/health/2012/10/24/4662.html