In the United States, the leading causes of visual impairment and acquired blindness are usually cataracts and other age-related macular degeneration, or what actually more is likely known as AMD. This condition is apparently what affects millions of Americans who are currently aging already. The most effective way on how to at least prevent or delay the progression of such ailments and diseases is none other than one’s nutrition.
There have been discovered nutrients which could be of great help when it comes to the protection of one’s eyes. The most useful nutrients are actually two carotenoids, lutein, and the last one is zeaxanthin, which are antioxidants that are located in one’s eyes. Likewise, there are a lot of green and leafy vegetables that could possibly help reduce one’s eye disease. There are even various foods that could help you if you are a person who has an eye disease, and some of these foods are eggs that are high in nutrients necessary for the eyes.
A lot of studies have shown that the two most essential nutrients one person must have are lutein and zeaxanthin. These two nutrients are known to be good ways to reduce the risk of any chronic eye disease, which actually includes those AMDs ad cataracts.
It is very much significant for you to protect your vision. You must also start with practicing a healthy lifestyle, especially when it comes to you practicing a good eye care. As you age, your eyes would definitely be of high risk for a lot of conditions. That is why it is really a must to keep your eyes healthy for as early as now to at least prevent you from acquiring any eye-related conditions and diseases. You could actually protect your eyes by what you get to eat every day. Based on studies, lutein and zeaxanthin are two nutrients that are found in certain foods that have been found to keep certain eye conditions at bay.
To give you brief information and introduction about these two nutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin are those yellow organic substances that are categorized as carotenoids. These two play a huge part in the photoprotection and coloration in plants. If you are to search for the strongest antioxidants, these two are the best option.
It is said that the main purpose of lutein and zeaxanthin is to strain any harmful high energy blue wavelengths of light, which could be a threat to one’s eyes. Also, it helps protect and keep healthy cells maintained in the eyes of the people. There are actually around 600 carotenoids which could be found in the environment. But among these figures, only two of them, which are the two nutrients mentioned above, are what is deposited in a very much high quantity inside one’s retina or also known as the macula of the eyes.
The quantity of zeaxanthin and lutein in the macular region of one’s retina is actually considered as the MPOD or Macular Pigment Optical Density. In recent years, MPOD has become a very significant biomarker to predict certain ailments and other visual functions.
However, it is very much inadequate for one human body to suffice the necessary amount of lutein and zeaxanthin one needs. That is why it is very much important to still rely on other sufficing foods such as those leafy and green vegetables for a healthy eye condition. Eating veggies could really give you a sufficient amount of lutein and zeaxanthin. You could also get it through your diet or other nutritional supplements taken, which results in maintaining your good eye health.
Relationship of Lutein and Zeaxanthin with Cataracts
The natural lens of one’s eye is actually referred to as the crystalline lens. Obviously, based form the term itself, this type of lens would actually give one a crystal-like form and appearance. The purpose of this lens is to initially collect and focus the light on one’s retina. However, this could only be made possible and exist throughout a lifetime if the lens is set to remain clear. The corrosion of the lens could be a major threat to the eyes as it could lead to cataracts that cloud one’s lens.
If you have a cataract, you should actually not worry as there have been created possible solutions to cure and at least prevent such occurrence. There are these antioxidant nutrients that counteract free radicals or those unstable molecules in the eyes which are caused by various stressors and even damage to the retina.
The very most common and effective nutrients to be used are the antioxidants, namely lutein and zeaxanthin, as they have their vital roles in preventing cataracts. Moreover, there had been a study which showed that the more lutein and zeaxanthin you intake, and if this would also be accompanied by taking up vitamin E, you would actually be able to lessen the risk of having any cataract formation.
Relationship of Lutein and Zeaxanthin with AMD
Just like cataracts, AMD could also be cured and prevented through the intake of lutein and zeaxanthin. This is actually based on true and valid researches from across the world. As a matter of fact, the National Eye Institute has found out that when you get to take some of the effective nutritional supplements daily, you get to reduce the risk of developing these AMDs. Moreover, studies show that lutein and zeaxanthin could really enhance your visual performance if you have any AMD.
With the various research advancements that today’s generation has, the eye health field has also given you a lot of ways on how to keep your eyes healthy. With these many learning as well, you get to teach it within yourselves. You must never really neglect your eye health. Thus, you should always switch to eating leafy and green veggies that produce lutein and zeaxanthin or just opt to take in supplements that are rich in these nutrients. Your health is your wealth so never ignore what you feel especially it involves your eyes.
