What is lutein?
Lutein (LOO-teen) is an antioxidant that exists inside the body and helps to protect and maintain healthy cells. It is found to be highly concentrated in the macula of your eye. Lutein is known as a natural form of “sunglasses” for your eyes. As you age, the amount of lutein in your macula may decrease. This can cause serious health problems for your eyes. Lutein can also protect against harmful blue light which comes from the outdoors and as well as many digital devices (computer screens, tablets, televisions).
Where can I get lutein?
Our bodies do not produce lutein, therefore we can only get it from supplements and food. Lutein is found naturally in eggs and many dark green leafy vegetables. The average American only consumes 1-2 mg of lutein per day in their diet! Research suggests 10 mg of lutein per day can help maintain good eye health. Getting enough of this important nutrient in your daily diet may reduce the risk of chronic eye problems like AMD or cataracts. When lutein is consumed through foods, it may be deposited into the tissues of the eye, including the macula, retina and lens. Below is a list of foods with lutein to add into your diet.
Foods with Lutein
Kale – 1 cup – 23.8 mg
Spinach – 1 cup – 20.4 mg
Collards – 1 cup – 14.6 mg
Corn – 1 cup – 2.2 mg
Green peas – 1 cup – 2.2 mg
Romaine lettuce – 1 cup – 1.3 mg
Green beans – 1 cup – 0.8 mg
Eggs – 2 large – 0.3 mg
Orange – 1 medium – 0.2 mg
If you aren’t getting 10 mg of lutein through your diet, you may look for dietary supplements that contain lutein. Make sure to check the dosage of lutein on your supplement labels. Viteyes offers many supplements with lutein including Viteyes Essentials and a line of Viteyes AREDS 2 formulas.
