Eggs for Eye Health?

Are you still one of those people who thinks eggs are bad for them? Eggs, like every other kind of food, used in moderation have a variety of positive effects on the body. Eggs contain vitamins A and D, which are good for your immune system, bones and night blindness. Two new studies have been released this year show that the egg may have a more profound effect on your eyes than previously thought.

In the Journal of Nutrition, these studies look at the effects of eggs on Age-related macular Degeneration (AMD). The finding are interesting not because of what the is in the egg, rather what the egg is apparently doing to lutien and zeaxanthin concentrations. The first study used 33 men and women over the age of 60. The serum levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were measured to established a baseline. The participants in the study ate one egg per day for five weeks. At the end of the study, serum levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were again measured. After five weeks the serum levels of lutein increased 26% and zeaxanthin increased 38% as compared to a control group that did not eat any eggs. The second study found similar results over a 12 week period.

If you at risk for AMD then you should take notice of these results. Eating foods high in lutein and zeaxanthin are one way that may prevent AMD. Adding an egg per day appears to help the body to hold on to more lutein and zeaxanthin than it normally would. The more of these two chemicals that your body has may help to prevent or at least delay of the onset of AMD.

Thank you for spending a part of your day here with me.

James