Goji Berries Protect Against Age Related Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration occurs when there is damage to the retina and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field, the macula. The eye is designed to focus light to form images on the retina.
The retina is protected from the concentration of light by a layer of cells in the eye called the retinal pigment epithelial. This layer of cells builds up yellow pigment from plants, like xeaxanthin, that absorbs blue light and protects the retina against photo-oxidative damage.
Goji berries are a concentrated source of the xeaxanthin pigment and have 60 times the amount the yellow pigment than eggs. Chinese understand the importance of protecting the eyes with these plant pigments, and traditional Chinese medicine prescribes 40-100 goji berries a day to preserve the eyesight in the elderly.
A scientific study here used only 15 goji berries a day, in comparison to the 40-100 prescribed by traditional Chinese medicine, and still found that it protected against the loss of pigment and against the buildup of debris in the back of the eye.
An important thing to remember is these pigments become more bioavailable to the body when they are consumed with fat. So eating a goji berry trail mix is recommended.
Tags: goji berries, goji berry benefits
