EYE HEALTH BENEFITS FROM DIETARY CAROTENOIDS
A new study published in the Institute of Food Technologists' Journal of Food Science, supports the theory that dietary sources of the oxygenated carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, benefit eye health. Carotenoids, a group of pigments found mainly in green leafy vegetables and coloured fruits, are deposited selectively in different tissues. Lutein and zeaxanthin, found in kale and spinach, are deposited in the retina. Evidence suggests that these carotenoids protect the retina and lens and prevent age related diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. They also lead to improvements in visual performance by influencing macular pigment by absorbing light scattered both within, by minimising glare, and outside of the eye The latest study concluded that: "It seems clear that MP (macular pigment) does influence visual performance through, at least, a few optical mechanisms. The most robust effects appear to be related to its actions as an optical filter."