A-Z eye health Articles

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid molecule that gives a reddish colour to various organisms such as microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, and some other crustaceans. This nutrient is a potent antioxidant with many different health benefits. Read on to discover them, and learn how to take astaxanthin supplements.

Top Health Benefits of Astaxanthin

Antioxidant Benefits

Astaxanthin is a type of carotenoid, which means it's related to beta-carotene and lycopene, two other types of carotenoids that make carrots and tomatoes orange and red.

When researchers measured their antioxidant activity against each other, they found that astaxanthin had more significant antioxidant activity than either beta-carotene or lycopene.

This nutrient from the ocean is a potent antioxidant that can protect our cells against free radical damage. Free radicals are produced in your body when you exercise, experience stress, or come into contact with toxins from pollution. When unstable molecules—aka free radicals—come into contact with your cells, they can create a chain reaction that leads to cell damage. These free radicals can damage your skin, causing it to look older and less vibrant, as well as contribute to other diseases such as heart disease.

But antioxidants prevent this damage by donating an electron to stabilize the free radicals. Antioxidants also help reduce inflammation in your body.

This antioxidant protection allows astaxanthin to help to prevent and treat eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and neurodegenerative conditions.

At the same time, this protects the skin against the physical signs of aging, including wrinkles and age spots. Because it is an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agent, it is beneficial for maintaining healthy skin, including helping skin retain a youthful glow.

Skin Benefits

Research shows that taking 6 mg of astaxanthin daily can improve skin texture, reduce wrinkles and spots, enhance skin elasticity, and increase moisture content.

Neurologic Benefits

Astaxanthin is highly beneficial in several neurological concerns. It can help prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and has also been shown to help recover from a stroke.

Cardiovascular and Blood Sugar Benefits

This nutrient has also been found to help reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a disease state that involves central obesity, high blood pressure, poor blood sugar control, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. It is also used to treat diabetes and to help prevent diabetic nephropathy. At the same time, current research has found that it protects the heart muscle against permanent damage from a heart attack.

Other Astaxanthin Supplement Benefits

In addition to its health benefits listed above, astaxanthin is effective in the treatment of:

• chronic inflammatory diseases
• gastrointestinal diseases
• liver diseases
• improving exercise performance
• some cases of male infertility

Where To Buy Astaxanthin Supplements

Eating a diet sufficient in astaxanthin containing fish and shellfish, such as salmon, trout, krill, and shrimp can help increase your levels of this beneficial nutrient. However, because our environment puts us in contact with free radicals, it can also be helpful to supplement.

Supplements are most often extracted from microalgae formally called Haematococcus Pluvialis and from the waste shells of commercially prepared shrimp. There is no established dosage for this supplement. So suggested dosages on the label of each product should be followed.

Important Information

It is used in farms across North America as a feed supplement for salmon, crabs, shrimp and chicken to impart a yellow-orange colour to the food. Interestingly, the freeing of this pigment is responsible for lobsters and shrimp turning red when cooked.

The astaxanthin used in farms is often produced synthetically from petrochemical sources. Supplementation has not been studied in pregnant or breastfeeding women, so it should be obtained from food sources instead.

Astaxanthin FAQs

What is Astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid antioxidant that can be taken as a supplement to offset the effects of free radical damage. It is related to other carotenoid nutrients, such as lycopene and beta-carotene.

What Are The Benefits of Astaxanthin?

It has been shown to benefit the skin by improving skin's hydration and texture while reducing age spots and wrinkles. It also helps the cardiovascular system and eye health and can be used for neurological concerns.

Are There Astaxanthin Side Effects?

Astaxanthin is generally safe. However, it is recommended that pregnant people avoid it.

Where Can I Buy Astaxanthin in Canada?

Most health food stores will carry astaxanthin supplements.

Beta carotene is the carotenoid molecule responsible for the orange colour of some fruits and vegetables such as carrots and apricots. Once consumed, beta carotene benefits your health because it can be converted by the liver into vitamin A, in its active (retinal) or storage (retinol) form. This is considered a safer way of supplementing vitamin A, as beta-carotene is non-toxic and is converted to vitamin A in only the amount required by the body.

Also, the beta-carotene ingested that is not converted to vitamin A, remains in the system, and can act as an antioxidant to protect the tissues from free radical damage.

High Beta Carotene Foods

Getting the benefits from beta carotene can be obtained from both supplements and diet. While you can get beta carotene from your diet, often nutrients obtained from food aren't always fully absorbed, decreased during the cooking process, or because of nutrient-poor soil, don't contain as many nutrients as they use to.

Foods high in beta carotene include:

• Carrots
• Apricots
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Sweet Potatoes
• Broccoli
• Cantaloupe
• Winter Squash

Beta Carotene & Vitamin A Benefits

Benefits of beta-carotene include being easily converted by the body to vitamin A, it can be said to have all the benefits of vitamin A supplementation as well. Some examples of this are: vision protection, and boosted immune defence of the mucous membranes.

In addition to these indirect benefits, beta-carotene can help with healthy cell growth by protecting the cellular genetic material (DNA) from damage by harmful free radicals. Supplementation of beta-carotene has been shown to reduce the risk of unhealthy cell growth. Through this antioxidant ability, beta-carotene also protects the body against environmental pollutants, UV rays, and other substances that can lead to aging.

Cautions & Important Info

While there are many health benefits to beta carotene, taking in a large quantity of beta-carotene can turn your skin slightly yellow, but this is not harmful to the body in any way. Beta-carotene supplementation is not recommended for people who smoke tobacco or drink alcohol as the combination of these things has been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers instead of decrease them. Those with hypothyroidism or diabetes may have a reduced ability to convert beta-carotene into vitamin A and should avoid high doses to prevent stressing the liver.

What Is Bilberry?

Bilberry extract became valued as a medicinal agent during World War II when British pilots claimed that eating bilberries improved their visual acuity, night vision and ability to adapt to glare. Scientific studies have backed up these testimonials by uncovering bilberry’s antioxidant properties. Free radicals are unstable molecules that in their bid to become more stable must bump into healthy cells and cause damage.

Bilberry Extract Health Benefits: An Antioxidant Powerhouse

Eye Health

Bilberry’s antioxidant properties neutralize free radicals and therefore reduce damage to vessels all over the body, including those in the eye. Cataracts are caused by free radical damage in the lens of the eye and therefore bilberry may help protect against and heal cataracts. Other eye problems that Bilberry supports, include:

• Macular Degeneration
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Night Blindness 
• Myopia

Anti-Aging

Bilberry has anti-aging properties because as an antioxidant, it protects the body against environmental pollutants, free radicals and other substances that lead to aging. Bilberry makes an excellent anti-aging skin supplement when taken internally and since it boosts collagen, can also have a positive effect on hair and nail health. 

Collagen Support

Bilberry also stabilizes the connective tissue called collagen. Thus it is beneficial for conditions of collagen instability in the vascular system such as varicose veins, phlebitis, joints and heart disease. 

Promotes Healthy Circulation 

Bilberry inhibits blood clotting and can be useful to increase circulation in cases of atherosclerosis and diabetes. Therefore, if you have circulatory issues, you may want to consider a bilberry supplement. 

Bilberry Extract Supplement Varieties

The berries of the bilberry plant contain the greatest concentration of the medicinally active ingredients, anthocyanidins. Supplements often contain the whole plant in encapsulated form. By purchasing supplements standardized to anthocyanadins one can be sure that there are some dried berries in the formula. Bilberry can be found in formulas for enhancing eye health and are often combined with other antioxidants, berries and herbs, such as eyebright.

Safety Information Of Bilberry Extract

Bilberry should be used with caution if you are nursing or pregnant. Bilberry can interfere with iron absorption and should not be taken at the same time as iron supplements. Bilberry may alter blood sugar levels and should be used cautiously in diabetics and hypoglycemics.

Maintaining healthy vision is essential for everyday life, from screen time and reading to overall quality of life as we age. With increasing exposure to digital devices and environmental stressors, supporting your eyes has never been more important. Alongside a nutrient-rich diet and healthy habits, many people are turning to eye supplements to help protect vision, reduce strain, and support long-term eye health. In this article, we'll explore simple and effective ways to keep your eyes functioning at their best.

Understanding Eye Health

The eye is a small sphere with a diameter of about 1 inch. Only one-sixth of the eye is visible; the rest is protected in the orbital socket. There are many accessory structures of the eye, including the eyebrows, eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal apparatus and eye muscles. Only a small part of the eye is dedicated to photoreception. This area is on the posterior wall of the inside of the eyeball and is called the retina. It contains rods, for dim light and peripheral vision, and cones, for bright light and colour vision. The lens is situated at the front of the eyeball, and its job is to focus light on the retina. Glasses are used to help focus light through the lens when the accommodation of the lens is inadequate or overcompensating. As we age, the muscles that move the lens decrease in function, making the use of glasses or contacts more common among older individuals.

What Causes Degenerative Eye Conditions?

The main causes of degenerative eye conditions are free radical damage and decreased blood flow to the eye.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage healthy cells while seeking stability. This damage can cause cell death, genetic changes, and autoimmune reactions. Food, water, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun contribute to free radicals in the eye.

The eyes reflect overall health. Blood vessels behind the eye are small and fragile. Changes often signal cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. These conditions reduce blood flow to the retina. Lack of oxygen and waste buildup eventually compromise vision. Poor diet, environmental toxins, medications, and stress reduce the body's ability to neutralize free radicals and maintain healthy blood vessels. This process can lead to the following eye conditions.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. It is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Rish factors include aging, diabetes, radiation, heavy metals, eye injury, steroids, and heredity.

Glaucoma is the seconf leading cause of blindness in North America. Increased eye pressure compressed the optic nerve and causes permanent vision changes. Stress or prolonged pupil dilation can trigger acute glaucoma. Poor drainage or excess fluid production causes acute glaucoma. Chronic glaucoma results from waste buildup, previous eye damage, medications for hypertension or depression, and cortisone use.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual loss in North America. Free radical damage to the macula causes this condition. Hypertension and arteriosclerosis also contribute to macular degeneration.

What Supplements Support Eye Health?

You can optimize eye health and protect against eye disease in many ways.

• Have regular vision screenings and medical exams.
• Follow a healthy diet.
• Reduce toxins and waste products through regular organ detoxification.
• Maintain a balanced lifestyle with exercise and relaxation.
• Minimize unprotected sun exposure and avoid smoking.
• Use appropriate nutritional and herbal supplements.

Vision screenings help maintain eye health because vision changes often develop gradually. Many pepole do not notice these changes during daily activities. Healthcare providers perform fundoscopy during routine physical exams. This retinal examination may detect early signs of eye disease, including small retinal vessel changes. Eat a diet rich in antioxidants from whole grains, raw fruits, and vegetables to reduce free radical damage. Consume lutein-and zeaxanthin-rich foods like broccoli, kale, spinach, collards, mustrard greens, and turnip greens. Eat flavonoid-rich foods and vitamins C and E from blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and other fruits and vegetables. Eat yellow fruits and vegetable for their vitamin A content.

Support cardiovascular health to reduce arteriosclerosis, prevent hypertension, and protect vision through healthy habits. Avoid salt, sugar, and animal fats. Choose vitamin E-rich foods like avocados and wheat.

Consume flaxseed, walnut, or pumpkin seed oil for essential fatty acids that support circulation. Drink at least 2 liters of filtered water daily plus herbal teas and juices. Start each morning with warm lemon water to support healthy digestion and hydration naturally.

Eat fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and cold-pressed oils. Avoid processed foods, fast food, alcohol, tobacco, fried foods, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners consistently.

Targeted supplements can support specific organs during detoxification when appropriate and professionally guideded always.

Manage stress because it increases free radical production and harms eye health over time. Exercise regularly to improve circulation throughout the body, including the eyes every day consistently.

Important Information

To prevent free radical damage to the eyes, avoid direct sunlight. Use sunglasses with full UV protection to protect your eyes. Smoking generates large amounts of free radicals and is thought to be a risk factor for degenerative eye conditions.

Maintaining healthy vision is essential for quality of life, yet many eye conditions can develop gradually and go unnoticed until more serious changes occur. Recognizing glaucoma symptoms early is key to protecting long-term eye health and preventing further complications. As awareness grows, more people are looking for ways to support their vision through proactive care, including nutrition and lifestyle choices. In this article, we'll explore what to watch for and how to support your eye health naturally. 

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in North America. It is characterized by a rise in the pressure inside the eyeball. The pressure causes compression of the optic nerve, and permanent vision changes result. If it happens acutely, there are usually severe symptoms. These symptoms include blurred vision with coloured halos, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, throbbing in one eye, redness in one eye and light sensitivity.

What Triggers An Attack?

Attacks can be triggered by stress or dilation of the pupil for long periods of time. The cause of acute glaucoma is a buildup of fluid in the eye. Fluid build-up occurs because of poor drainage or an increase in production.

What Are The Symptoms Of Glaucoma?

Vision changes caused by glaucoma generally present initially as blank spots and peripheral blurring. Chronic glaucoma usually affects both eyes and affects people over the age of 65. Some of the common symptoms, in addition to the previously mentioned, include sore eyes, recurring headaches, and an increase in frequency of eye glass prescription changes. Previous eye injuries, waste buildup, cortisone use, and certain blood pressure or depression medications can contribute to glaucoma. Glaucoma causes permanent eye damage, and lost vision cannot be restored.

Treatment Options For Glaucoma

Doctors typically treat chronic glaucoma with medicated eye drops that lower intraocular pressure. Side effects vary depending on the prescribed medication. Surgeons may treat most acute cases and some chronic cases with surgery.

Unfortunately, surgery has a variable success rate. Natural therapies can help to moderate intraocular pressure, but acute attacks are a medical emergency and should be dealt with in a hospital setting.

To help prevent glaucoma, include regular aerobic exercise in your daily routine. It has been shown to decrease intraocular pressure for as long as the regimen is performed. Avoid stress and prolonged straining of the eyes.

Avoid smoky environments. Stay proactive about your eye health, have regular eye screenings and do not change your glaucoma medication without consulting your ophthalmologist.

Dietary changes for glaucoma involve identifying and avoiding food allergens. They cause a buildup of fluid in the body. Avoid all caffeine sources, including coffee, chocolate and soft drinks. Also, avoid alcohol, stimulants (including ephedra and licorice) and salt. Drink lots of filtered water in small amounts throughout the day. Eat foods that are high in vitamin C, bioflavonoids, vitamin A and B vitamins. Some of these foods are sesame seeds, citrus fruits, carrots, beets, beet greens, spinach, broccoli, celery, blueberries, cherries and whole grains.

Sometimes there is confusion surrounding exactly what makes up lecithin. In biochemistry, lecithin is just another word used for phosphatidylcholine. Generally in other industries and general public knowledge, lecithin is an emulsifying agent that contains anywhere from 20-90% phosphatidylcholine, as well as a variety of other lipids. These other lipids are mostly choline, sterols, and smaller amounts of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid and inositol. Lecithin supplements are used for many health benefits, let's explore some. 

Key Health Benefits of Lecithin 

• Cardiovascular support
• Improving memory
• Repairing the liver
• Supports autoimmune disorders
• Improves chronic fatigue syndrome
• Supports multiple sclerosis (MS)

Lecithin As An Emulsifying Agent

It is common knowledge that under normal circumstances oil and water won't mix. The term "emulsifier" is used to describe a substance that is fat-soluble in water. Its emulsifying properties allow it to prevent fatty build-ups in the body, for example in the blood vessels and liver. It can also aid in digestion by helping fat in foods be more easily digested.

Lecithin Supplements and the Liver

Interestingly, your liver naturally produces lecithin in small amounts. The liver requires lecithin to function properly, and supplementation can help to protect the liver against the scarring and cirrhosis caused by chronic alcoholism. Research has also shown that lecithin supplementation can help to slow the degeneration caused by chronic liver diseases like viral hepatitis.

Cholesterol Regulation

A lecithin supplement helps maintain cholesterol levels because its healthy fats help to build up "good" HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is responsible for moving fat, from storage or plaques, into the liver where processing and excretion of fat occurs. By decreasing fatty build-up in arteries it helps to regulate blood pressure and prevent the formation of arteriosclerosis.

Memory Support of Lecithin Supplements

Lecithin is a large component of all cell membranes because it regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell. The choline it contains can cross the blood-brain barrier to produce brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that aid in memory - in particular acetylcholine.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support

The protective coating of the brain and nerve cells is also composed of choline. In this respect, lecithin helps to make the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves responsible for conducting messages from the brain to the muscles and organs of your body. In this way, the myelin sheath performs a similar function to the insulation sheathing of electrical wires. If this protective sheath degenerates, a "shorting out" of the message that the nerve is carrying occurs, which can result in the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). 

Top Sources For Lecithin Supplements

Most of the commercially used sources of lecithin for lecithin supplements are extracted from soybeans, although some may be from egg yolk, or sunflower or grape seeds. New research is finding greater value from supplements made from fresh egg yolk. Lecithin can be purchased in capsules, as granules, or even as a liquid. The granules and liquid should be refrigerated for freshness because the essential fatty acid components can go rancid.

Quality Lecithin Supplement Varieties

The general dosage range is between 1200 and 3600mg of lecithin daily in divided doses (often three times daily). For liver and cardiovascular health and as a general nutritional supplement, dosing of lecithin can be on the lower end of the dosage range. It is generally considered best to dose at the highest end of the range for more degenerative conditions like cirrhosis of the liver and multiple sclerosis.

Lutein and zeaxanthin supplements are both different isomers of the same xanthophyll pigment molecule. They are naturally occurring carotenoids found in the highest abundance in green leafy vegetables. Both of these molecules play a large role in eye health. They are both found to be highly concentrated in the retina, which is the lining on the back of the eye that is responsible for vision.

Like with many other carotenoids, any lutein and zeaxanthin that is not used for immediate bodily requirements can act as an antioxidant to reduce free radical damage to the tissues.

Top Benefits of Carotenoid Supplements: Lutein & Zeaxanthin

Eye Health Benefits

Lutein and zeaxanthin supplements are responsible for the ability of our eyes to absorb blue light, which is a wavelength of light that produces free radicals and puts significant oxidative stress on tissues. Studies show a correlation between high lutein consumption and increased pigmentation of the retina. Increased pigment has been shown to lower your risk of macular degeneration and cataracts, although it doesn't reverse already established illnesses. Interestingly, lutein is found in the highest concentration in the peripheral retina, which better senses motion and black-and-white. Zeaxanthin, on the other hand, is found to be highly concentrated in the macula, the more detailed and colour-sensitive region of the retina. Lutein may also prove helpful for retinopathies associated with advanced diabetes likely from protection against damage from excess sugar in the blood.

Other Key Benefits

High lutein consumption has been associated with a reduced incidence of unhealthy cell growth in men's prostate. It may also help prevent or slow down the thickening of the arteries known as atherosclerosis, which is a major risk for cardiovascular disease. Interestingly, cardiovascular disease is often accelerated by free radical damage.

Taking Lutein & Zeaxanthin Supplements

Eating a diet rich in green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and collard greens is a great way to increase your lutein and zeaxanthin intake. As a supplement, lutein comes individually in capsules, or as a sublingual spray for those with compromised digestion. Both lutein and zeaxanthin can be found in several combination formulas for eye health. There is currently no recommended dosage for lutein or zeaxanthin. Many supplements commonly suggest between 6-12mg/day of lutein and 2-6mg/day of zeaxanthin. It is advisable to follow the recommended dosage provided by each manufacturer.

Potential Side Effects of Carotenoids

Lutein and zeaxanthin are non-toxic but can cause harmless yellow-orange skin pigmentation if consumed in very large amounts.

The best time to start taking care of your eyes is before a problem even starts. While the progressive loss of vision from the degeneration of the macula does not usually appear until after age forty, the damage to the eye actually begins long before. It begins slowly as damage to individual cells, which, over time, affects tissues on a larger scale, ultimately resulting in the advanced vision impairment characteristic of this disorder. The earlier you begin intervening against this damage with antioxidants, the better. Let's explore the best macular degeneration supplements and how they support your overall eye health.

What is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual loss in North America. It is caused by free radical damage to the macula, the area of the retina responsible for central vision. Blurring in the centre of the visual field eventually makes detailed work and reading impossible. The periphery of the visual field remains unaltered. Thus, a kind of reverse tunnel vision results.

Key Causes of Macular Degeneration

Free radical damage causes macular degeneration as people age. This condition is often called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Free radicals are unstable molecules that, in their bid to become more stable, must bump into healthy cells and cause damage. Unhealthy food, poor-quality water, toxins, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun are the major contributors to free radicals that build up in the eye. Other contributors to macular degeneration are hypertension and arteriosclerosis, both of which can restrict blood flow to the macula.

Types of Macular Degeneration

What are the results of the two different types of macular degeneration? The first and most common type consists of free-radical damage to the light-sensitive cells of the macula. The second, less common type occurs when blood vessels of the eye become fragile and break largely due to free radical damage, but also because of an increase in pressure against the blood vessel wall from hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. The blood flow, crucial to maintaining the health of the macula, is then reduced. Both result in the same loss of sight in the centre of the eye’s field of vision and can affect only one eye or both eyes at once. People can have one or the other type of AMD, or in fact a combination of the two.

Free Radical Damage

Proper nutrition can slow free radical damage to the macula. Certain supplements may help protect vision. The most important supplement to use for reducing the oxidative damage to these cells is the carotenoid lutein.

Derived in a supplemental form from marigold flowers and related to beta carotene, lutein has an affinity for the tissues that make up the macula. Lutein specifically protects the macula. Other antioxidants support tissues throughout the body.

An analogy that researchers often use to describe this effect is that it is similar to applying a high SPF suntan lotion to your skin to prevent sunburn. Zeaxanthin also accumulates in the macula. Many lutein supplements include zeaxanthin for additional support.

Several antioxidants help reduce free radical damage in the eyes. These include vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, NAC, and beta-carotene. For specific dosages, please see the list below.

Blood Vessel Fragility

Targeted nutrients can reduce blood vessel fragility. They can also strengthen delicate vessels that supply the eyes. Bilberry, the European relative to the North American blueberry, contains active components called anthocyanosides, a type of bioflavanoid. Anthocyanosides strengthen the collagen that lines blood vessels, thus increasing their elasticity. Bilberry also helps to reduce the free radical damage to which these small blood vessels are particularly sensitive. Ginkgo, grape seed extract and hawthorn can also provide support for the small blood vessels of the eye. These antioxidant herbs also contain similar bioflavanoids that can have a synergistic, or a greater effect when combined all together. Moderate doses can be taken for prevention, and higher, therapeutic doses can be taken as part of a treatment protocol for AMD.

Macular Degeneration Supplements & Lifestyle Tips

Cleansing and detoxification may support macular health. Accumulated toxins can increase free radical exposure. Liver cleansing is especially important as this organ is responsible for detoxifying and breaking down toxins. Consider milk thistle, alpha lipoic acid, the amino acid NAC, and dandelion to support liver function. NAC is particularly useful, especially against free radicals from pollution, cigarette smoke, and alcohol. It is also useful for removing heavy metals from the body and supporting vascular cleansing, which are both beneficial when dealing with AMD.

There are other external factors that have an effect on the development of AMD. To prevent AMD, avoid direct sunlight - use sunglasses with full UV protection to protect your eyes. Smoking and drinking coffee or alcohol generate large amounts of free radicals and are thought to be risk factors for degenerative eye conditions. Chelation therapy helps to reverse AMD by increasing circulation through a cleansing of the arteries.

A diet high in antioxidants, including whole grains, raw fruits and raw vegetables, decreases free radical damage. Eat foods containing lutein and zeaxanthin, like broccoli, collards, kale, mustard greens, spinach and turnip greens. Eat foods rich in flavinoids and vitamins C and E like blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and other fruits and vegetables. Yellow fruits and vegetables should be consumed for their vitamin A content. Drink lots of filtered water. Avoid chlorinated and fluoridated water.

Support the cardiovascular system to decrease arteriosclerosis and prevent hypertension. Maintain a healthy weight. Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Avoid salt, sugar and animal fats. Consume foods that are high in vitamin E, like avocados and wheat germ, to protect the vessels. Essential fatty acids also help with AMD by decreasing cholesterol levels. Try using flaxseed, walnut or pumpkin seed oil.

Zeaxanthin, also referred to as a xanthophyll, is an oxygenated form of carotenoid. Unlike alpha and beta-carotene, which are converted to retinol (vitamin A), zeaxanthin has no vitamin A activity.

What is Zeaxanthin?

Zeaxanthin is a special carotenoid in that it, along with lutein are the only carotenoids found in the retina and lens of the eye. These carotenoids function to absorb blue light, protecting the eye from light-induced oxidative damage. As such, these carotenoids have been studied extensively for their potential ability to slow the development of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Health Benefits of Zeaxanthin

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older populations. Studies have shown that individuals with higher intakes of food rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, at a minimum dosage of 6 mg/day, have a significantly decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration. They are also less likely to develop cataracts or require cataract extraction. As family history plays at least some role in the development of both these conditions, these carotenoids may help to prevent a problem before it even becomes one.

Foods rich in zeaxanthin have also been shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular disease. Although high in antioxidants, it is believed that it is not the antioxidant ability of these foods alone that accounts for its medicinal effects. Studies based on supplementation of beta-carotenes have not finding the same benefits. This is another indication that a healthy diet can often be just as effective, in some cases more effective, than supplementation alone.

How To Take Carotenoids

Carotenoids, like zeaxanthin, are best absorbed with a small amount of fat in meals. Preparing foods high in carotenoids, for example, chopping, pureeing or cooking with oil generally increases the bioavailability of the carotenoids they contain.

Zeaxanthin is rarely found alone in supplement form. It is normally combined with lutein in combinations geared toward eye health. It is not naturally found in the same concentrations as lutein; therefore, usually found in much smaller amounts than its fellow carotenoid when combined in capsule form. There have been no toxicity or safety issues reported with the use of zeaxanthin.