Have you ever wondered if there are more natural ways to lower your high blood pressure,

guard against Alzheimer's, loose weight, feel better?

Well, it turns out there is.

Welcome to the Nutrition Facts podcast.

I'm your host, Dr. Michael Greger.

Did you know that eight threads of saffron a day can improve visual acuity in older adults

with mild or moderate age-related macular degeneration?

Here's the first story.

In addition to two to three daily servings of green leafy vegetables, berries are considered

a healthy choice for the preservation of eye health.

As we age, our critical retinal pigment epithelium layer starts to break down.

However, we may be able to decelerate that aging with blueberries.

Human RPE cells bathed in blueberry anthocinus had fewer free radicals

and a lower proportion of aged cells, suggesting

that blueberries and other red, blue, and purple pigmented fruits and vegetables may

help prevent age-related macular degeneration.

Protective properties have also been demonstrated in vitro on RPE cells from purple sweet

potato anthocyan, as well as the yellow pigment in turmeric and an

amla extract, Indian gooseberry. However, the only human interventional trials on berries

for vision were a month-long trial of a bilberry extract that demonstrated significantly

less eye strain after iPad use compared to placebo, and a study showing

three weeks of blueberry juice or freeze-dry blueberry powder both significantly improved

...