| The appropriate Lutein dosage is a matter of | | | | But, those are the current figures. Recent |
| some debate, but even as little as 6mg per day is | | | | research indicates that this is not an inevitable |
| beneficial, according to some studies. That's | | | | disease of the elderly and that it may be |
| relatively easy to get by eating a daily serving of | | | | reversible, with proper dietary changes and an |
| kale, Swiss chard, spinach, collard or mustard | | | | adequate zeaxanthin and Lutein dosage. |
| greens. | | | | Zeaxanthin is similar to Lutein, but even harder to |
| However, most researchers recommend a | | | | get in the diet. Most researchers believe that at |
| minimum of 20mg per day. That's a bit harder to | | | | least 6mg per day are necessary to have a |
| get through diet alone, and one reason that | | | | beneficial effect in preventing or reversing AMD. It |
| supplementation is often recommended, especially | | | | would take 18 cups of spinach to get that much |
| for people that have a family history of macular | | | | zeaxanthin. |
| degeneration or have already been diagnosed with | | | | One of the risk factors for AMD is high |
| the disease. | | | | cholesterol. Antioxidants found in green tea and |
| Here's a little about macular degeneration for | | | | omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial for reducing |
| those that don't know. | | | | cholesterol levels. Omega 3 fatty acids, especially |
| It is disease in which yellow plaques form on the | | | | DHA, are also important for eye health. DHA is |
| retina in the back of the eye. Eventually, these | | | | the most abundant fatty acid in the retina. |
| plaques can interfere with central vision. Meaning | | | | Co-supplementation with DHA omega3 and a |
| the patient has only peripheral vision and that is | | | | 20-50mg lutein dosage is often recommended for |
| often blurry. | | | | those that are at risk for DHA. Not only because |
| Retinitis pigmentosa is affects the same area of | | | | of the benefit of DHA to the eye and for |
| the eye, but is a genetic disease that causes the | | | | lowering cholesterol, but also because the Lutein |
| loss of peripheral vision. Interestingly, both eye | | | | and zeaxanthin, like vitamin E and A, are fat |
| diseases are currently being treated with | | | | soluble vitamins. |
| nutrients, rather than prescription drugs. Vitamin A | | | | In other words, they don't dissolve in water. |
| or beta-carotene is used for retinitis pigmentosa. | | | | If you read some of the latest reports about |
| A 20-50mg lutein dosage is used for macular | | | | health problems of all kinds, you will start to see a |
| degeneration. | | | | bit of a pattern. |
| While both diseases may be inherited, there are | | | | For decades, the medical community was only |
| specific risk factors for age-related macular | | | | interested in new drugs and surgical techniques, |
| degeneration (AMD) that have nothing to do with | | | | when the keys were actually in the food that we |
| genetics. Macular degeneration can occur at any | | | | eat, or in many cases don't eat. |
| age, but is most common in people over the age | | | | If you were a member of the "Happy Meal" |
| of 66. Approximately 10% of people between the | | | | generation, you could certainly benefit from a 50 |
| ages of 66 and 74 will have some degree of | | | | mg lutein dosage, every day. |
| macular degeneration. | | | | |