Goji Berries Benefits to the Macula


Goji berries benefits to the macula are the result of their high amounts of antioxidant compounds, including zeaxanthin.

Goji Benefits

Zeaxanthin, along with lutein, make up the macular pigment, which protects our eyes from the harmful effects of light.

Although there are alot of claims as to goji berries benefits that may be hard to verify, one thing is sure - they are full of great nutrition like:

vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fat and antioxidants

Here is a list:

1. Zeaxanthin

While lutein is concentrated mostly in the rod cells of your retina, the cone cells, which are responsible for detailed central vision, have a high concentration of zeaxanthin.

Both of these pigments are so prevalent in the macula they are called the macular pigment. The macular pigment provides protection to the retina from the damaging free radicals of sunlight.

Low levels of macular pigment are often found in eyes with age related macular degeneration (AMD) and in those with risk factors for AMD. To read more about zeaxanthin click here: Zeaxanthin

2. Lutein

Lutein is found in

1) the lens of your eyes and

2) the retina, especially the macula.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the two carotenoids found in the macular pigment - a layer of tissue that protects the macula from the harmful effects of:

√ blue light, a harmful component of sunlight

√ ultra violet light.

To read more about lutein click here: Lutein

3. Lycopene

According to a stuy reported in the Archives of Ophthalmology, a 1995 case controlled study concluded that

persons who had the lowest serum levels of lycopene, the most abundant carotenoid in the serum, were twice as likely to have age related macular degeneration (AMD)when compared to those with the highest levels.

Mares-Perlman, et al. Arch Ophthalmol 1995 Dec;113(12):1518-23

To find out more about this important anditoxidant click here: Lycopene

4. Other Vitamins, Minerals, Carbohydrates and Fats

Here is a list of other great nutrients found in the goji berry.

Vitamin C

Cryptoxanthin - a natural carotenoid pigment

Beta Carotene

Iron

B Vitamins

Selenium

Zinc

Iron

Potassium

Calcium

Polysaccharides - complex carbohydrates

Essential fatty acids - linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid

Beta-sitosterol and other phytosterols

The content of these nutrients do depend on the maturity of the plant at harvesting, growing and soil conditions, geographic region, processing and length of storage.

Goji Fruit - A Super Food

It is no surprise that goji fruit benefits our health and our eyes in many ways with antioxidants like lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene.

After reading David Wolfe's book, Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future, I've become more consistent in including this fruit in our diet and reaping it's many benefits.

David Wolfe lists this fruit as one of the top 10 superfoods because, "Goji berries are perhaps the most nutritionally rich berry-fruit on the planet."

We have started ordering and taking these organic goji berries and put them in our cereal, granola and fruit smoothies.

If you'd like to order organic goji berries from David Wolfe's website click here:

Organic Goji Berries

For Related Information:

Go from Goji Berries Benefits to Goji

Learn about Zeaxanthin

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