What if your customers no longer had to worry about age-related macular degeneration? What if your product contributed to the eye health of the 14 million Americans who are visually impaired (nih.gov)?
ZEAXANTHIN and LUTEIN are categorized under the class of carotenoids, xanthophylls. Xanthophylls act as natural sunscreens in plants, guarding them from the damaging effects of excessive light-derived energy (lifeextension).
FOR HUMANS
These carotenoids work to absorb blue light, which is known to lead to serious impairment, thereby shielding the eye from light induced oxidative damage (nationalnutrition). This is especially useful information considering that upward of 17 million Americans show symptoms of macular degeneration, and more than 2 million are functionally blind. While intermediate disease is found in 25% of people over 65 years of age, advanced disease is seen in 7% of adults over 75. Linked to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, macular degeneration can not only lower the quality of life for so many people but can eventually chip away at their lifespan. Your lutein and zeaxanthin-rich product can bring something new to the table, helping to prevent so many unfortunate but avoidable cases of eye-related diseases (lifeextension).
17 million Americans show symptoms of macular degeneration, and more than 2 million are functionally blind.
EVIDENCE
Scientists have continually demonstrated the protective capabilities of zeaxanthin, lutein, and meso-zeaxanthin, which is another xanthophyll carotenoid. It has been discovered that the macula, a specialized area of the eye’s retina, has high concentrations of the carotenoids mentioned above. Lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in the macula, and if taken as a SUPPLEMENT, meso-zeaxanthin is absorbed into the bloodstream, directly increasing macular pigment levels. These carotenoids also protect the retina by absorbing “harmful ultraviolet rays and blue-green light, which can eventually damage the retina and lead to vision loss. They can thus be thought of as natural sunscreens for the eyes” (lifeextension). And get this: the eye lens, which focuses light entering the eye on the eye’s retina, is full of zeaxanthin and lutein. One might take their eye health more seriously after considering that the lens protects against cataracts, a condition no one wants.
CARDIO PROTECTION
In one Los Angeles study that focused on atherosclerosis, 573 subjects who did not have symptoms of cardiovascular disease were tracked. At the end of 18 months, those with higher baseline blood levels of zeaxanthin and lutein showed a decrease in carotid intima-media thickness. Since increased carotid intima-media thickness represents the progression of atherosclerosis (heart disease), the study’s outcome hints that zeaxanthin and lutein helped protect against the development of cardiovascular disease. Experts concluded that these carotenoids’ antioxidants played a major role—antioxidants, something we know a thing or two about (https://www.makersnutrition.com/news/2017-11-14-green-superfood/).
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE
These carotenoids can also help… your customers’ skin! Hindering the rate of reduced hydration, flexibility, and lipid content, lutein and zeaxanthin can protect the skin from unfavorable changes. In another study “Clinical Evidence for Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Skin Health,” a “combination of orally consumed and topically administered lutein produced numerous benefits for the skin. These included improvements in skin hydration, skin elasticity, concentration of superficial skin lipids, [and the reduction of lipid oxidation, which causes skin to age]” (lifeextension). TAKE NOTE: it was lutein SUPPLEMENTS—not food—that yielded better skin conditions and skin’s youthfulness.
Who knew, right?!
MAKERS NUTRITION
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