Macular degeneration is a major cause of gradual central-vision loss in the elderly. The average age at onset of visual loss is about 75 years. After the age of 50 years, the incidence steadily increases; over one-third of people in their ninth decade of life are affected.

Daily supplements of Resveratrol may improve how the human body responds to insulin, the hormone responsible for sugar and fat metabolism researchers report. According to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition, a daily 10 milligram dose of Resveratrol was associated with reductions in insulin resistance in type-2 diabetics. “….recent studies (including the present study) have demonstrated that the efficacy of Resveratrol at low doses might increase the possibility for its medicinal application,” report researchers from the University of Pécs.

Daily supplements of Green Tea Extract plus L-Theanine boost mental alertness and enhance memory, according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study from Korea. The combination was associated with improvements in immediate and delayed recall, and general memory, according to findings published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods. L-Theanine, an amino acid concentrated from tea leaves helps reduce stress, improves focus and promotes relaxation and at night improves the quality of sleep.

improves brain power and vision in young adults A new study from researchers at the University of Reading claims that consumption of cocoa flavanols may improve aspects of eye and brain function. Real, unprocessed contains a particularly high concentration of flavanols, and in recent years there has been an increasing interest in the health benefits of flavanol-containing foods. Writing in the journal, Physiology & Behavior, the authors said their findings show that performance on vision tests in healthy young adults and some aspects of cognitive performance can be improved by consuming enough cocoa flavanols (CF).

Taking larger servings of the Vitamin E family known as Tocotrienols, using Tocomin Tocotrienols from palm oil for six months may reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 17 percent and total cholesterol by 11 percent. “Lowering of the total and LDL cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects could be achieved through supplementation with mixed tocotrienols, and was accompanied by a significantly higher serum Tocotrienol concentration relative to the tocopherol level,” wrote the researchers, led by Professor KH Yuen from the University of Science Malaysia. “The cholesterol lowering activity can be attained after 4 months of supplementation,” they added.