These Super Nutrients Are Found Inside Your Eyes!

24 Aug 2022 / Mohit Bhatia

There are certain plants and veggies such as carrots which have a vibrant color due to carotenoid pigment which provides veggies with their bright yellow, orange and red hues. Carotenoids are plant cells and are also known as phytonutrients. They’re antioxidant in nature and nutrients such as lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin are a part of the carotenoid family!

Their antioxidant properties provide you with many health benefits as well as playing an essential role in plant health.

Lutein and zeaxanthin have been linked with improving and maintaining eye health as they’re the only dietary carotenoids found in your eye’s retina part. The unique molecular structure of astaxanthin allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter your eyes! These carotenoids are known as macular pigments due to their prevalence in the macular region located in the back side of your eye; the part which is important for your vision! Out of all the tissues in human body, the retina contain maximum concentration of DHA

Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in high concentrations in green leafy veggies like spinach, lettuce, peas, broccoli, kale and others. You can also find this nutrients in egg yolks, pistachios, corn, red pepper and some varieties of wheat

Astaxanthin can be naturally found in algae and yeast. Fishes which feed on these marine plants tend to be higher in astaxanthin and have a reddish coloration like salmon, lobster, krill, shrimp, crab and more. 

Each of these super nutrients is fat soluble. This means that for their best absorption in your body, they should be had with a source of dietary fat. So do add a drizzle of olive oil to your salad or butter to your veg sandwich for ideal absorption!

There are many other nutrients which have a positive impact on our eye health. These include: Vitamins C, E, A and DHA.The food sources for all these nutrients vary. To make sure you get all these nutrients along with lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin then do try our Superhuman eye health gummies for a Razor Sharp Vision!

Here are some benefits that these nutrients offer in eye health and other areas: 

1. Improve eye health (Slowing rate of age related eye health disorders)

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is an aging ailment. AMD sufferers when supplemented with our super nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin have shown to reduce the rate of advancement of this ailment! It may also have preventative properties to reduce the occurrence or slow the onset of degeneration! (1).

Lutein and Zeaxanthin improve our eye health without any side effects. In 1 study, participants who were smokers when supplemented with beta carotene were showing increased risk of lung cancer due to beta carotene’s nature. Researchers noticed that when switched to lutein and zeaxanthin, the participants showed no increased risk of lung cancer due to lutein and zeaxanthin and showed improvements in their eye health (2,3).

The rate of formation was slower for eye diseases like cataract in individuals who were having a high intake of lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin (4).

It is known that lower levels of DHA, lutein, zeaxanthin,astaxanthin and DHA are associated with dry eye syndrome and diabetic retinopathy. (5, 6, 7). Dry eye syndrome is where your eyes don't produce enough lubrication (8). Diabetic retinopathy is a disease in diabetic patients which causes progressive damage to your retina. It impacts 4 out of 10 diabetic patients. Having these nutrients in your system therefore will help prevent or reduce these symptoms.(9, 10, 11).

The anti-inflammatory properties of zeaxanthin and lutein aid in slowing down uveitis; an inflammation occurring in the eye’s central area also known as uvea. (12)

Research has also been done to understand how lutein can improve vision problems associated with long-term blue light exposure from our screens. Participants who took lutein supplementation showed improvement in vision functions compared to placebo (13).

Researchers in a study concluded that lutein should be a primary focus on a lutein rich diet as well as encouraging supplementation especially in older adults and for those who are having recurring issues with their eye health (14).

2. Baby Eye Development

Lutein can be a crucial factor in babies’ eye health development in pregnancy and to maintain their vision throughout their lifespan according to scientific research so far. However detailed research is required to provide a more solid understanding of recommended dosage (15).

3. Heart Health

Lutein and zeaxanthin being antioxidants have shown reliability in cardiovascular health as well.  (16).Studies have shown reduction in cholesterol, triglycerides, as well as improvements in clinical parameters in heart patients (17, 18, 19, 20). Similar results have been found for DHA as well (21, 22, 23, 24).

4. Cancer 

While more human studies are required to provide definitive conclusions, a high intake of lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin and other carotenoids have shown to be associated with improved prognosis and reduced risk of certain cancers such as pancreatic cancer, head & neck cancer and breast cancer (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30).

5. Brain Health

Carotenoids were found to play a major role in reducing risk of neurodegenerative disorders however more research is required in this area. (31, 32). Higher dietary and supplementary intake of lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin are linked with promoting brain and cognitive functions such as improved and enhanced memory  (33, 34, 35).

6. Protects against UV damage

Astaxanthin when supplemented well tends to accumulate in the top layers of your skin (dermis, epidermis) and blocks UV penetration from the sun as well as helps in reducing existing damage! (36) Similarly, Lutein and zeaxanthin’s antioxidant properties help your skin as well! (37).

Participants who were supplemented with lutein and zeaxanthin had improved skin tone compared to the placebo group. These super nutrients can also prevent UVB induced tumors and in general prevent premature aging of your skin due to sun damage! (38, 39, 40).

Conclusion:

These super nutrients are a great addition to your routine especially if you’re someone who spends a lot of your time on screens. Try our Superhuman gummies for Razor Sharp Vision today for improving your eye health and reducing blue light damage!

REFERENCES:

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