Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Lutein - Natural Carotenoid

Lutein is an antioxidant that comes from the carotenoid family. Lutein is one of over 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids. Lutein is found in a variety of plants and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, bilberries, grapes etc. Lutein is also present in eggs and in corn and is partly responsible for the yellow color they have. Lutein is an antioxidant that can help reduce harmful free radicals that can occur in cells and may contribute to cell damage. Lutein can also filter or absorb cell-damaging, high-energy blue light in your eye. These defensive qualities enable lutein to defend your eye's retina, your skin and other organs and tissues in your body.

Lutein is very important in our body because since it is an antioxidant, it comes out to extinguish or lessen any damaging free radical in some part of the body, which may cause different kinds of chronics illnesses. The only difference of lutein from other vitamins and nutrients is that the human body cannot manufacture it. As a result, people must acquire the luteins that they needed through the sources of lutein such as foods or any kind of supplement preferably natural herbal supplements.

Lutein may help protect cells from damage and has the ability to filter some of the harmful light from the sun. Lutein is present in both the lens and the macular region of the eye - that is, the eye tissues are responsible for central vision. Lutein is the antioxidant that forms the yellow pigment in the retina of the eye & acts like built-in sunglasses. Studies have shown that the amount of lutein in the macula can be changed based on the level of lutein supplied in the diet. Dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale are some of the highest lutein-containing foods. Foods with smaller amounts of lutein include broccoli, corn, romaine lettuce, peas, zucchini, oranges and tangerines.

Lutein is found in the macula in high concentrations and may play a role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. Lutein may protect the macula and photoreceptor outer segments throughout the retina from oxidative stress and play a role in an antioxidant cascade that safely disarms the energy of reactive oxygen and radical species.

Benefit of Lutein

Lutein was found to be present in a concentrated area of the macula, a small area of the retina responsible for central vision. The hypothesis for the natural concentration is that lutein helps protect from oxidative stress and high-energy light. Various research studies have shown that a direct relationship exists between lutein intake and pigmentation in the eye. Several studies also show that an increase in macula pigmentation decreases the risk for eye diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Below is a list of the proven benefits of lutein as a dietary or nutritional supplement

1. Lutein is a great antioxidant that offers defense from free radicals that roots many kinds of diseases.
2. Lutein strains out damaging lights from sun.
3. Lutein Shields the eyes against cataract.
4. Lutein may be used to treating a person affected with cataract.
5. Lutein helps to treat macular deterioration.
6. Lutein also serves as an anti-cancer instrument - this rip the danger of early signs of colon cancer.
7. Lutein also protects the body against bad cholesterol.
8. Lutein reduces osteoarthritis pains, lessens arthritis and helps in maintaining the arteries clean.

These benefits can be acquired from lutein since it is a strong source of antioxidant, thus contradicting any free radical harm. If this is left unimpeded, those free radicals can cause damages directing to some serious diseases such as heart diseases, some types of cancer and untimely aging.

About the Author
Herbs & Research Depart At Nutrovita.com

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