Nutrient Duo Saves Eyes and Memory

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

Your vision and your memory are two of the first things to go as you age.

And losing either one can really slam the brakes on your retirement plans.

But it turns out it doesn’t have to be this way.

You see, researchers from the University of Georgia have found that a powerful nutrient duo can keep your vision crystal clear and your mind sharp as a tack well into your golden years.

And believe it or not, these nutrients are in some of your favorite foods.

I’m talking about lutein and zeaxanthin, two powerful carotenoids found in leafy greens, peas and eggs.

This combo has been touted for years as a must for healthy eyes because they are the “bricks and mortar” of your macular pigments, which are vital for clear vision.

More recently, however, top researchers looked at how low lutein and zeaxanthin levels can affect your memory.

In the study, participants in their 70s had their lutein and zeaxanthin levels measured. Next, they took memory and cognition tests while having their brain activity measured.

And the results were shocking…

Folks with higher levels of these powerhouse nutrients experienced significant increases in blood oxygen levels in the brain, which can contribute to better memory.

Even better, lutein and zeaxanthin improved brain activity in areas of the brain related to memory and cognitive function.

This means by simply upping your levels of these two nutrients, you can save your sight and keep your precious memories for good.

The only problem is your body is incapable of making ANY lutein and zeaxanthin.

So as you age, your eyes starve for lutein and zeaxanthin because they get only what comes from your diet.

And while they are both found in some of your favorite foods, you would have to eat a boatload of them every day to get anywhere close to a proper dose.

So your best bet is to take them as a supplement. You can find the duo together at natural health retailers.

Be sure to opt for a supplement that offers 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin, as the American Optometric Association recommends these amounts for vision support.

A dosage for cognitive support has yet to be determined, but we will update you when it is.

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.


Sources

[1] Relationship of Lutein and Zeaxanthin Levels to Neurocognitive Functioning: An fMRI Study of Older Adults.

[2] Lutein & Zeaxanthin

Natalie Moore

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

View More Free Articles

Preserve Your Mobility with “Agile Aging” Exercises

Aging has a way of humbling us. You lose hair where you want to keep it—and often end up growing it where you don’t. With every passing year, your eyesight fades, and your waistline expands. And as your once quick pace begins to slow, you fear developing the dreaded “senior shuffle.” But here’s the thing....

Read This

Yes, Lazy Saturday Lie-Ins Can BOOST Your Health

Are you burning the midnight oil during the week and catching up on sleep on weekends? Well, I’ve got some news that might help you feel less guilty about those lazy Saturday mornings. A new study suggests that weekend lie-ins might be doing far more than just helping you feel refreshed. Experts say they could...

Read This

Mailbag: 7 Hidden Culprits Behind Your Weight Gain

“Why am I gaining weight, even though I am watching what I am eating?” – Battling the Bulge Dear Battling, Gaining weight when you’re not trying to is frustrating. And it just gets worse as we age… often regardless of our diet. The truth is that various factors can promote weight gain even when you’re...

Read This

Popular Artificial Sweetener Linked to Dangerous Heart Risk

Remember when erythritol was the darling of the health food world? Well, this popular sugar substitute might not be as sweet a deal as we were led to believe… A shocking new study reveals a dark side to this widely used artificial sweetener. It turns out erythritol is associated with a dangerous—and even deadly—heart risk....

Read This

Cracking the Code on Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation and obesity are the evil tag team at the heart of nearly every major disease we face—from diabetes to obesity. What starts as a normal, healthy process to fend off dangerous invaders can quickly fan into the flames of chronic inflammation… and that includes in your gut. The trouble is almost no one has...

Read This

Dreaming of Better Sleep? Your Gut Holds the Key

Do you toss and turn at night? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, if you’re a senior over 65, you join nearly 17 percent of your peers who ALSO struggle with poor sleep quality. But science has uncovered a natural supplement that not only could help you catch more Z’s but can also give...

Read This

Aging Breakthrough Could Extend Lifespan by Decades

We all want to live longer, don’t we? We want to see our grandchildren grow up, travel to all those places on our bucket list, and make the most of every precious moment we have on this earth. Outsmarting aging is a universal desire that’s as old as humanity itself. Well, brace yourself. It turns...

Read This

3 “Cocktail Companions” Reduce Alcohol’s Health Risks

We’ve all heard the alcohol warnings. Even moderate drinking can increase your risk of cancer, heart disease, and liver problems. But let’s face it, sometimes you still want to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a cocktail with friends. While there’s no magic bullet to completely erase alcohol’s effects, new research suggests there...

Read This

A Diabetes Danger Lurking in your GUT?

Every day, we discover something new about our gut’s incredible influence on our overall health. From mood to immunity and even how well we sleep, that community of microbes in our digestive system is pulling the strings behind the scenes. So, it should come as no surprise that researchers have uncovered yet another way our...

Read This

Mailbag: Ditch Migraine Pain WITHOUT Drugs

“Would love to know if there’s anything (other than pharmaceuticals) that can help chronic migraines.” -Seeking Relief Hi Seeking, As you know, migraines cause severe throbbing pain that can be accompanied by light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and even vomiting. Folks who suffer from chronic migraines can battle headaches 15 or more days a month,...

Read This