Want To Control Cholesterol And To Get Rid Of Arthritis. Try Lutein

Want To Control Cholesterol And To Get Rid Of Arthritis. Try Lutein
INTRODUCTION:

Lutein is one of the natural pigments that is very useful for the organs which are directly exposed to the external environment like eyes & skin. It provides nutritional support to our eyes & skin because of its potent antioxidant activity that is useful in protecting them from harmful chemicals. The body cannot manufacture it, therefore it must be obtained from the external sources; the main sources are dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach. Fruits & egg yolks also contain lutein.

WHY LUTEIN IS NECESSARY?

Eating foods containing lutein or consuming dietary supplements is very useful in maintaining the healthy body activities because its antioxidant action appears to reduce harmful chemicals in various parts of the body so preventing from long term problems. Lutein also protects the body from harmful rays (ultra violets) that are believed to induce free radical damage in human organs exposed to light like eyes & skin. Lutein is required for the normal functioning of eye, blood serum, skin, brain and breast. Lutein is one of the carotenoids is under investigation as a possible anti cancer nutrient. Good source of Lutein includes dark leafy greens and broccoli. Researches believe that Lutein acts as antioxidant, protecting the cells in the eye from free radicals.

HEALTH BENIFICIAL EFFECTS OF LUTEIN:

EYES HEALTH:

Cataracts (clouding of lens in the eyes) & macular degeneration (loss of functional activity of macula) are the two aged related disorders that are protected by using lutein. Lutein is concentrated on a small region of retina that is concern with the central vision & high visual acuity called macula. Due to the deficiency of lutein, the functional activity of macula is declined which result in the loss of central vision & weak eyesight causing problems in reading, sewing and driving.

SKIN HEALTH:

Skin is the largest organ of the human body. Along with the eyes it is directly exposed to the sunlight & environmental pollutants.

Similar to the eyes, lutein also deposited throughout the skin. Research suggested that 10mg of lutein obtained from food or dietary supplements may helpful in maintaining the healthy skin by increasing skin lipid contents, hydration (penetration of water in deeper layers) & elasticity. Lutein also has the ability to filter the ultra violet rays of sun that are harmful for the skin.


HEART HEALTH:
Lutein may also be helpful in preventing deposition of fatty materials on the inner wall of the arteries that are present in neck thus protect against obstruction, which is the most common cause of heart attacks. Deposition of these materials also occurs in the artery that nourishes the heart muscles called as coronary artery & it is a major contributor of coronary heart disease.

Figures showing changes in the artery due to deposition of fatty materials.

This deposition is due to the harmful chemicals (free radicals) that convert the bad cholesterol (Low- Density Lipoprotein (Cholesterol) or LDL) in a form which causes the occlusion of arteries. Research in the University of Southern California indicated that subjects with the highest levels of lutein in blood had no increase in deposited material in the arteries than those that with lowest levels & had blocked arteries. The antioxidant ability of lutein present in the blood enables the arteries to protect against this condition. Blood level of lutein rather than tissue levels are important for the complete heart health, so regular dietary intake of lutein may protects from heart problems .

WOMEN HEALTH:

Dietary supplementation with lutein is very essential for the women health because researches indicated that deficiency of lutein may increases the risk of breast cancer.

Author Bio:

Hmark writes part time about lutein and other important nutritional supplements. To learn more about lutein and other natural supplements, visit http://www.herbmark.com/lutein.html