What are the health benefits of Saffron?
Saffron is a kind of spice. Saffron extracts have been used to
promote feelings of satiety and to promote visual acuity and eye
health.
Carotenoids: Eye-friendly Nutrients
Carotenoids are a class of phytonutrients (plant chemicals) that
are obtained from diet or supplements. Eating foods or taking
supplements that contain carotenoids can offer a wide range of
health benefits. For instance: the carotenoids lutein and
zeaxanthin are the main pigments in the macular portion of the
eye’s retina. Lutein and zeaxanthin protect your eye against light
and free radical-induced damage.
Why Should I Supplement With MacuGuard® Ocular Support with
Saffron?
"The nutrients our eyes need are hard to come by, and studies show
that our bodies sometimes lose the ability to produce them as we
age. With MacuGuard® Ocular Support with Saffron, you'll get all
the nutrients you need to protect your eyes from oxidative stress.
It also includes C3G, a cutting-edge berry flavonoid compound that
helps support nighttime vision.
"We also have a version of MacuGuard® that adds astaxanthin. This
helps support your vascular health within the eye and helps fight
eye fatigue."
The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are the main components of
your macular pigment, and help protect the eyes from the
effects of excess blue and ultraviolet light.1-3
Lutein & Zeaxanthin: vital for healthy vision
That's why this formula contains lutein and trans
-zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin, as well as
alpha-carotene, another eye health carotenoid that has been
associated with protection of the macula and retina.4 Lutein
and the two types of zeaxanthin are very well-known to help
preserve the health of the macula and act as defenders against
excessive oxidative stress. They help keep eyes functioning
well, even over time.3,5,6
Phospholipids for carotenoids: optimal absorption
Getting these eye-healthy nutrients where you need them most is
a huge part of supporting your vision health. This
formula contains phospholipids, which are an integral part of
every cell membrane in the body. This helps promote absorption
of lutein and zeaxanthin. Good absorption is crucial for these
nutrients to make it into the retina of the eye.3
Nutrition for night vision: C3G berry flavonoids
MacuGuard® Ocular Support with Saffron also contains an
anthocyanin flavonoid extracted from European black currant
berry. Cyanidin-3-glucoside encourages the regeneration of rhodopsin, a retinal compound that converts visible
light to the electrical signals that reach the visual centers
of the brain, especially in low-light conditions.7,8 Rhodopsin
needs to be continually regenerated, but science believes that
as we age this happens less and less.9 Cyanidin-3-glucoside may
help older eyes see better at night.
Vision-enhancing benefits of saffron
This formula also includes saffron extract. Multiple clinical
studies have shown that supplementation with 20 mg of saffron
helps support vision and retinal function, as measured both by
advanced technical testing and on the Snellen eye chart that is
commonly used by doctors to test vision.10-12
-
J. Higdon. Carotenoids. Accessed 06/18/2019.
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/p...
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Dev Ophthalmol
. 2005;38:70-88.
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Nutrients
. 2013;5(4):1169-85.
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JAMA Ophthalmol
. 2015;133(12):1415-24.
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Molecules
. 2017 Apr 20;22(4):610.
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Progress in retinal and eye research
. 2016;50:34-66.
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U. N. L. o. Medicine. RHO gene - rhodopsin. Accessed https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/RHO
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Photochem Photobiol
. 2009;85(2):463-70.
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Vision research
. 2011;51(13):1610-1622.
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Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
. 2012;2012:429124.
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Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
. 2010;51(12):6118-24.
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J Transl Med
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