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Who doesn't want to enjoy a lifetime of excellent vision?
But besides having routine eye exams and having your eyeglasses prescription and contact lens prescription updated when changes occur, is there anything else you can do to keep your eyes healthy and maintain optimum vision?
According to nutrition research, an important key to healthy eyes and good vision may be getting enough carotenoids in your diet. In particular, carotenoids may help protect your eyes from the damaging effects of blue light and reduce your risk of macular degeneration later in life.
Carotenoids (kuh-RAH-teh-noids) are pigments that give fruits and vegetables their vibrant red, orange, yellow and green colors. They act as antioxidants and have significant cancer-fighting properties.
The most sensitive part of the retina in the eye is called the macula. The macula has the highest concentration of photoreceptors in the retina and is the portion of the retina where our sharpest vision is produced. It also is responsible for our ability to perceive colors.
Three dietary carotenoids — lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin — form the pigment in the macula ("macular pigment") that protects the millions of photoreceptor cells located in this small region of the central retina.
In particular, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the macular pigment reduce oxidative stress on the retina caused by high-energy blue light, which is believed to contribute to the development of macular degeneration.
Also, blue light has shorter wavelengths than other visible light, which scatter more easily in the eye, causing glare and reducing contrast sensitivity and visual acuity. The macular pigment selectively filters out image-degrading visible blue light for sharper vision.
Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip greens are excellent natural sources of eye-healthy carotenoids.
Foods with the highest concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin found in macular pigment include:
[Try these easy recipes — all contain carotenoids: deli-style kale salad, orange pepper frittata, pumpkin mousse.]
It was once believed that meso-zeaxanthin did not occur in natural food sources and was produced primarily by the metabolism of lutein. However, recent research has detected meso-zeaxanthin in the skin of trout, sardines and salmon, and in the flesh of trout. Meso-zeaxanthin also has been found in significant amounts in eggs from Mexico, where it is used as an ingredient in poultry feed.
Several high-quality carotenoid supplements are available in the United States that are specifically formulated for eye health and are available without a prescription. Top brands include:
MacuHealth with LMZ3. MacuHealth with LMZ3 is the only dietary supplement that contains all three critical carotenoids — lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin — in the same 10:10:2 ratio found in the macular pigment of the eye, according to the company. Each gelatin capsule contains 10 mg lutein, 10 mg meso-zeaxanthin and 2 mg zeaxanthin.
EyePromise Zeaxanthin + Lutein. EyePromise Zeaxanthin + Lutein is designed to increase macular pigment optical density and protect macular photoreceptors with the highest available level of dietary zeaxanthin, according to the company. Each softgel capsule contains 10 mg lutein and 10 mg zeaxanthin.
Ask your eye doctor which carotenoid supplement is best for you.
Article sourced from All About Vision
