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Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Coffee Swap Could Help Protect Your Eyes as You Age
If you love waking up with a morning java, you're familiar with the quick energy boost you get from consuming caffeine. But enjoying a regular cup of joe can do more than just perk you up: A new study suggests coffee can affect your vision too. Here we break down what the study reveals about the popular drink and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—including the simple swap that might help ward off vision loss as we age. As we get older, the likelihood of developing eye diseases increases. One condition in particular to be aware of is dry age-related macular degeneration. 'Dry age-related macular degeneration is a condition that happens as you age and can lead to vision loss [especially in your central vision] or blindness,' explains Hunter Cherwek, MD, Ophthalmologist & VP of Clinical Services and Technologies at Orbis International. This is opposed to wet AMD, which is a more severe and less common form of the eye condition. 'The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina (the back of the eye) and is responsible for crisp, clear vision,' Dr. Cherwek says. 'Dry AMD is the most common form of the condition and occurs when a film grows on the retina, which causes vision distortions' or blurred vision. (See more AMD symptoms to watch for here.) If you've never had vision problems or don't have a genetic predisposition forAMD, you may be wondering how relevant the condition could be to you. But it's more common than you may realize. 'This is an incredibly important topic for everyone because it is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss and blindness around the world in people over the age of 60,' says Dr. Cherwek. If you have a particularly busy schedule, you may find yourself reaching for instant coffee more often than not. But when it comes to this type of brew, new research suggests it may be wise to pay attention to how much you consume in order to protect your eye health. In a new Food Science & Nutrition study, researchers found that consumption of instant coffee was associated with a nearly seven-fold increased risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration. Ground coffee and decaf coffee did not show the same association in the study. So what is it about instant coffee in particular that could affect your vision? Meenal Agarwal, OD, a board-certified optometrist and leading authority on the eye-brain connection at Dr. Meenal Agarwal & Associates, says its processing could play a role. 'Instant coffee undergoes more intense processing, often at higher temperatures, which can produce harmful byproducts like acrylamide, a compound linked to oxidative stress and inflammation,' says Dr. Agarwal. 'These processes strip away some beneficial compounds found in brewed coffee, possibly harming tissues like the retina.' If you love instant coffee, you may not need to toss out your stash just yet. 'It's early to recommend avoiding instant coffee altogether based solely on this study,' says Dr. Agarwal, who cautions that more research is still needed. However, experts agree that if you're prone to developing AMD due to family history or other risk factors (such as being over age 50, smoking or having high blood pressure), simply replacing instant coffee with ground coffee could be a smart move. 'If you have a family history of macular degeneration, it might be worth considering switching from instant coffee to brewed coffee, but I encourage you to bring this up with an eye doctor who is familiar with your case and can give you more specific recommendations,' says Dr. Cherwek. Dr. Agarwal had the same advice for those who may be more likely to develop AMD. 'It's smart to minimize potential risks. I'd recommend limiting instant coffee, especially daily use, and opting for brewed or decaf versions,' says Dr. Agarwal. 'You don't need to give up coffee altogether, but it's worth being mindful about your choices and making positive lifestyle changes.' In addition to changing how you brew your daily cup of coffee, experts suggest other helpful strategies to help ward off AMD and protect your vision. 'The most important step someone can take is to stop smoking—it's extremely damaging to eye health and significantly increases the likelihood of developing AMD,' says Dr. Cherwek. (Discover more macular degeneration self-care tips here.) Although diet and weight may not seem directly related to eye health, they're important to consider. 'In addition, maintaining a healthy diet and managing your weight are essential,' says Dr. Cherwek. 'AMD was one of the first retinal diseases where dietary changes were shown to help prevent vision loss. Today, we have a strong body of evidence showing that lifestyle factors like diet and weight management play a critical role in lowering the risk of this disease.' Dr. Agarwal also recommends the following for lowering AMD risk: Annual eye exams A diet rich in leafy greens Omega-3s Colorful fruits Wearing 100% UVA/UVB protection or UV400 sunglasses Regular exercise Considering an eye supplement (your eye doctor can recommend specific ones) Keep scrolling for more eye health stories! Castor Oil for Dry Eyes Relieved One Woman's Discomfort When Nothing Else Worked Can Your Vision Predict Your Dementia Risk? Research Suggests It Can Burning Eyes? 3 Common Causes and Fast-Acting Home Remedies This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
Japan Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Top-performing Orbis fund doubles holdings in Japanese stocks
A top-performing global equity fund has more than doubled its exposure to Japan this year, making the move just as a strengthening yen boosts the outlook for domestic companies. Japanese stocks made up 24% of the $3 billion Orbis International Equity fund as of end-April, up from just 10% four months earlier. The fund focuses on non-U.S. stocks and beat 99% of peers so far this year with a 16% return, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It's also ahead of 99% of peers over three and five years. A multiyear slide in the yen made the average investor "very unwilling' to buy shares of domestic Japanese firms, whose profits got crimped by rising import costs, said Bermuda-based manager Graeme Forster. That means those low-margin businesses were priced at depressed valuations in a cheap currency, he said. "So you almost got discount on discount,' Forster said in an April 29 interview. Now, the yen's fortunes have changed. Recent market turmoil drove investors to the currency as a haven asset, pushing its year-to-date gains against the dollar to about 10%. This means foreign investors that put money into shares of Japanese importers will reap two benefits at once: yen gains and improved earnings at these businesses. About 4% of Forster's portfolio is in four Japanese drugstore operators — Tsuruha Holdings, Sundrug, Sugi Holdings and Welcia Holdings. He expects these firms to increasingly pass on rising costs to consumers as the country shakes off years of deflation. Forster also sees the fragmented drugstore sector as poised to benefit from consolidation. In April, retailer Aeon announced a deal to buy Tsuruha, once it merges with rival Welcia. But Orbis, which owns roughly 10% in Tsuruha, plans to vote against the merger during a shareholder meeting later this month, saying the deal undervalues the target. Tsuruha shares have risen 30% this year to slightly below Aeon's proposed acquisition price. Forster's other Japanese stock holdings include beer producer Asahi Group Holdings, which he said is getting increasingly strong at capital management. In addition to buybacks, the beer brewer has pledged to pay out 40% of its net income this year as dividends. He also owns a stake in developer Mitsubishi Estate, drawn to a sector now heeding investor calls to buy back shares, rather than pursue new construction. Inflation is benefiting real estate firms as rents climb, Forster added. "Revenues rise and costs aren't rising commensurately, so you're seeing cash flows going up for the first time in a long time,' he said. Strong gains in European defense and financial stocks have also propelled the fund's outperformance this year. However, Forster said he has pared back some of these winning bets, exiting Germany's Rheinmetall, which has soared more than 150% year-to-date. At the same time, the fund manager retained positions in South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as he considers Asia's defense contractors to be relatively cheap. Forster has turned more cautious on European banks for the time being, as the European Central Bank is poised to lower interest rates. Forster prefers businesses that generate steady free cash flow — the likes of Shell and British American Tobacco. He expects equities will struggle to replicate the strong returns seen over the past decade, while tipping global long-term interest rates to climb as the United States rebalances trade. This is a setup that he predicts will suppress asset prices. "If you can get a real 12, 13 or 14% free cash flow yield that is sustainable, that's all you need to do much better than the averages,' he said. "You don't need to figure out what AI is going to do. You don't need to worry too much about what (U.S. President) Donald Trump is going to do. Just find those businesses and own them.'
