Do You Know How Much Lutein is in Food You Eat?

By the time you finish reading this, you will know what lutein is, how it helps us, which foods are rich in it, and also if they alone are enough for your eyes' health. Let's get started.

Lutein is a naturally occurring carotenoid and is present as a pigment in the macula of our eyes' retina. This is responsible for forming clear and sharp images of objects in our eyes. Lutein protects our eyes against oxidation and damage from blue light present in the sun rays.

As our eyes age they begin to lose their sharpness, and symptoms like blind spots and blurred images begin to appear. This is known as AMD - Age related Macular Degeneration. Studies have shown that increasing the lutein intake decreases the chances of developing AMD.

There are other benefits of lutein also:
- It protects our eyes against cataracts too. If left untreated, cataracts can even lead to blindness. Lutein can help prevent that from happening.
- It is also an anti-cancer agent. It can protect us from colon cancer and bladder cancer.
- Lutein protects us from Alzheimer's disease too.
- Over time, cholesterol deposits on the arteries, which begin to harden later on. This is known as Atherosclerosis. Lutein prevents this too, by breaking down the cholesterol in our blood stream.

In our diet, most of the lutein is in food groups containing green leafy vegetables. The primary sources are - kale, zucchini, garden peas, romain lettuce, turnip greens and broccoli. Corn and egg yolk are also rich in this nutrient.

However, the diet of an average adult contains just 1-2 mg of lutein in a day. Whereas, at least 20-30 mg should be taken to effectively fight off AMD and to get the rest of the health benefits. Although it might be possible to get that amount by eating loads of these vegetables, it would be an uphill battle to do so on a regular basis for most people.

The solution might lie in nutritional supplements. These supplements contain high quantities of lutein and other essential nutrients. Just taking a couple of pills a day would provide you with all the nutrients your body needs.

A good supplement will, in fact, contain additional nutrients apart from lutein. Zeaxanthin, another component of the retina; also provides protection against AMD. Bilberry extract protects the eyes from oxidation caused by free radicals.

Granted, lutein is in food we eat - but our eyes need much more than that. Do yourself a favor and find out a good supplement that provides you with these essential nutrients. Your eyes will love you for it!

Visit my website today to learn more on choosing a quality lutein supplement.