Thursday, September 27, 2012

Three Retinal Pigments


Lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin

Lutein, zeaxanthin and  meso-zeaxanthin are macular pigments that absorb blue light and protect the retina from oxidative damage while improving visual performance. Our bodies cannot synthesize lutein and zeaxanthin, but we can metabolize meso-zeaxanthin from lutein in the absence of zeaxanthin.
The average North American receives only 1 mg lutein per day from their diet.  Scientists believe that we need between 6mg and 10mg of lutein per day to maintain a healthy retina and prevent the progression of AMD.

Consume foods that are high in both lutein and zeaxanthin every day.

Foods high in lutein:  Leafy green vegetables, eggs
Foods high in zeaxanthin: Orange peppers, goji berries
Meso-zeaxanthin is not commonly found in food

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