Nutrients that support eye health
The eye is a complex organ made up of regarding one million nerve fibers. It is also the place where aging begins the earliest among the human organs. This is because it is used frequently and is easily damaged by external stimuli. As we get older, our eyes become blurry or dim, which can lead to blindness if mistaken for presbyopia and left unattended. If things look different from usual or if you feel a foreign body sensation in your eyes, it is time to actively take care of your eye health.
Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration are considered to be the three major eye diseases that cause blindness. In particular, macular degeneration has the highest rate of leading to blindness. If not properly treated, the rate of blindness within two years reaches 15%. Macular degeneration is a disease in which abnormal blood vessels form in the macula, the center of the retina in the eye, resulting in bleeding and reduced vision.
When letters and objects look crooked or black dots are visible, macular degeneration may be suspected. When the symptoms are not severe, there are no special signs and it is easy to neglect eye health. In particular, the macula, which is a nervous tissue, needs special attention because it is difficult to recover once damaged. The best way to prevent macular degeneration is to prevent it from occurring.
Prevent eye diseases by supplementing nutrients
In order to prevent eye diseases such as macular degeneration, it is good to consume nutrients that are beneficial to eye health. ‘Lutein’, ‘Astaxanthin’ and ‘Vitamin A’ are representative examples. First, lutein, a material of the macula, plays a role in protecting the function of the eye from free radicals. Lutein in the retina is insufficient or frequent exposure to ultraviolet light can cause macular degeneration, so it is necessary to supplement enough lutein. However, lutein is not produced by the body itself. It must be ingested from outside through food or nutritional supplements. Lutein is mainly found in green and yellow vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli.
Second, astaxanthin is a hematococcus extract and has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It helps supply more blood and nutrients to the ciliary body, the eye muscles that control focus. It is also effective in improving eye fatigue, the main culprit of presbyopia. Astaxanthin, a raw material that has been recognized for its functionality by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, is found in many red seafood such as salmon, shrimp, and sea bream. However, it is difficult to absorb enough nutrients to benefit eye health. It is a good way to easily consume nutrients in the form of well-designed health functional foods.
Finally, vitamin A plays a role in keeping the retina, conjunctiva, and cornea healthy. That’s why vitamin A is called the ‘vitamin for the eyes’. A lack of vitamin A can lead to night blindness and loss of vision. Vitamin A is abundantly found in green-yellow vegetables such as spinach and parsley, and paprika, orange, and tomato. Vitamin A prevents water loss from the body, so it is recommended to consume it frequently in dry autumn and winter.
Reporter Shin Young-kyung
