If you've researched eye health, you probably know about lutein and zeaxanthin.
These are two carotenoids found in the eye--lutein is found primarily in the retina (the lining along the back wall of the eye).
Carotenoids are organic pigments found in nature and occur naturally in chromoplasts and chloroplasts of plants and other photosynthetic organisms.
The macula resides in the rear, lower portion of the eye.
It looks like a tiny dot, kind of like the period at the end of a sentence.
Meso-zeaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein all are present here and they all help protect it from harmful sun exposure.
Sun (UV) exposure causes free radicals to form and over time this can lead to disease.
Neither of these carotenoids are produced by the human body--we must obtain a good zeaxanthin and lutein dosage from our diets in dark green, leafy foods like kale, spinach, broccoli, and corn.
Meso-zeaxanthin is created by the body from lutein and is the first line before zeaxanthin and lutein for protecting the eye from UV exposure.
Advanced Macular Degeneration (AMD) and cataracts are both known to occur because the lack of these carotenoids over time along with sun exposure is very detrimental to the eye.
It has been shown that increasing our zeaxanthin and lutein dosages can make a big difference towards the prevention of disease and can improve the functioning of our eyes.
Although there aren't any official guidelines for daily zeaxanthin and lutein dosages, studies show improvement when at least 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin are taken on a daily basis.
However, these are only guidelines.
Obtaining more than 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin will not have any adverse consequences since both are already found in nature and in the foods you eat.
Ideally, you should get as much as possible of both carotenoids in your diet on a daily basis to help improve eye health.
As mentioned before, by following a good diet you can get good amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin.
However, even though these amounts look relatively small, it often takes eating a large amount of these vegetables to obtain a good zeaxanthin and lutein dosage.
Can increasing lutein dosage help for other conditions? Some suggest that it is effective in fighting colon cancer and breast cancer; however, evidence for this is insufficient at best.
It's best to think of lutein and zeaxanthin as nutrients that help to keep our vision at our best.
In addition to eating the proper foods, it's also important to include a good quality supplement to your daily regimen.
The best supplements use all natural, high quality ingredients and are produced in quality controlled conditions.
Ideally, it's best to purchase supplements directly from a manufacturer that can provide a certificate of analysis (COA) which shows that each batch produced has the right amount of minerals and nutrients in each tablet.
It's also important to look for an enteric coating.
This is a special kind of coating that ensures that stomach acids don't break down the multivitamin--rather, the multivitamin is broken down and absorbed in the small intestine--to ensure the best absorption of the minerals and nutrients.
Keep these things in mind when getting your next multivitamin.
By comparing the quality, quantity, and types of ingredients, you can easily determine which ones are best for your visual and overall health.
And taking the small daily steps by providing your eyes with the right nourishment can make a significant difference over time, leading to better vision and lower chances of disease.
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