Plant pigment that protects vision

A few months ago, I had to drive home in the rain. It wasn’t as though everything was blurry, but headlights were glaring more than usual and the lines on the road didn’t look as sharp as they always have.

It was alarming, especially since I have no problem seeing to drive during the day. But not as alarming as it would have been had oncoming headlights appeared dimmer.

That would be a red flag for retinal issues. You should regularly have your vision checked and get a referral for a retina specialist if you experience:

• Difficulty adapting to low light levels
• Blurry print when reading (e.g. newspapers, books)
• Difficulty driving
• Problems with colors appearing less bright
• Difficulty recognizing faces
• A blind spot in the center of your vision

If things just seem a bit hazy or glaring to you, odds are you are low in a special eye-saving nutrient found in colorful vegetables.

It’s called lutein, and it gets stored in our eyes. How much lutein is stored affects how well you can see, how well you see differences in contrasts and how well you deal with glare.

It’s exactly what I needed to improve my night vision, so I focused on incorporating more into my daily regimen.

Studies show we should be getting at least 10 mg of lutein every day.

Aim to eat foods like spinach and eggs, or any of the following foods with lutein:

• Leafy greens like kale, Swiss chard, turnip greens, collard greens and romaine lettuce

• Broccoli, zucchini, okra, peas and Brussels sprouts

• Corn and celery

• Carrots and tomatoes

• Melons, grapefruit, oranges

• Beets

The average diet is sorely lacking in lutein, so adding a high quality lutein supplement can be a good idea.

Also, exercise makes for healthier eyes and protects the retina. The reason is blood flow. The blood vessels in your eyes carry the micronutrients you need for sharp eyesight like lutein and zeaxanthin to the tissues in your eyes.

Sources:
macular.org/lutein-antioxidant-supplementation-trial
nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/050513
allaboutvision.com/nutrition/lutein.htm
sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170725122004.htm
aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/diet-and-nutrition/lutein

The post Plant pigment that protects vision appeared first on Personal Liberty®.