Found in orange and yellow veggies (such as carrots and sweet potatoes), leafy greens (such as spinach and kale) and eggs (esp. in the yolks), Lutein is a xanthophyll, a type of carotenoid that contains oxygen. It is one of 600 known carotenoids, which are types of pigments found in plants, but it also acts as a macular pigment, concentrated in the retina of the eye.
Among its possible health benefits:
· Eye Health
· Brain Health
· Heart Health
· Cancer Prevention
Lutein as a supplement is most popular for eye health. Astonishingly, a 25% reduction in advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was found from supplementation of lutein and zeaxanthin in people with AMD.
Consider this: lutein (an antioxidant) is concentrated in the retina (an extension of the brain), and must travel through the blood brain barrier to get there. Lutein concentrations in the eye have also been correlated with concentration in the brain, suggesting a correlation with cognitive function. In several randomized clinical trials, lutein supplementation have been found to have positive impacts on brain health and cognition.
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