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We’re a long way from the days when most people struggled to get their daily supply of vitamins. These days, there are supplements for every kind of vitamin you can imagine. So, really we’ve reached the point where we don’t need to worry about not being able to get the vitamins we need. And yet, many people still don’t.

Even in this day and age when vitamin scarcity isn’t really an issue for a lot of people, a lot of us struggle to eat a healthy diet. To fix this, many turn to those vitamin supplements. And as long as you’re in the market for supplements, you might want to consider taking lutein. Lutein carries a range of benefits that make it worth keeping an eye out for. So what exactly is lutein? How does it help you? And what foods have naturally high levels of it?

What is Lutein?

Lutein is a substance that is a natural product of photosynthesis in plants. Animals use it in their own bodies to help form the eyes and keep them healthy. It is concentrated primarily in the macula, which is an area of the eye that helps us to see three-dimensional objects.

Lutein seems to play a really significant role in the over all health of the eyes. And lutein deficiency can lead to macular degeneration, which can eventually cause blindness.

What Benefits Does It Have?

There’s a lot of evidence that lutein supplements can benefit your vision. As they age, many people begin to naturally experience a gradual degradation of their eyesight. And making sure that you are getting enough lutein is a good way to help prevent this.

In addition, it can prevent other eye problems like cataracts. Cataracts are caused by a gradual build up of material beneath the lens of the eyes. In time, cataracts can completely block your vision, making you blind. The surgery to remove cataracts is actually pretty simple. Basically, the doctor makes an incision in your eye and slips the material blocking your vision out.

Of course, it’s better to avoid developing cataracts in the first place if you can. And lutein may help with that. In addition, lutein has been suggested as possibly having benefits for a number of other conditions.

For instance, there’s a bit of evidence to suggest that people with low levels of it in their blood are more likely to suffer from lung cancer. But there is also evidence that taking supplements isn’t a significant way to reduce your risk of dying from lung cancer. Like many alternative uses of this vitamin, the evidence on its efficacy is mixed.

This is also the case for other purported benefits like muscle soreness. Many have suggested that taking a lutein supplement can prevent or delay muscle soreness. However, evidence has shown that taking a daily supplement didn’t seem to markedly reduce the amount of soreness people felt after exercise.

And diabetes is another condition that people have researched the possibility of treating with lutein. Again, results about whether or not this works have been mixed.

With that being said, there are a number of benefits to getting enough of it in your diet. And doing so naturally is a great choice.

Naturally High Lutein Foods

The best source of lutein is in leafy green vegetables. Plants like Kale, spinach, and even carrots are great ways to get it. This is likely why you’ve heard the old story that carrots are good for your eyes, and in fact, they likely are.

That’s also why it’s important to maintain a diet high in fruits and vegetables. These are the only natural source of lutein. Of course, many of us know that we probably aren’t eating enough vegetables. And that’s why supplements can be a good option.

But, as long as you make sure to get a few servings of green vegetables in every week, odds are that your levels of lutein are sufficient. The key is to simply be conscious of what you eat. After all, a good diet is the best way to maintain your health. There’s even a lot of evidence that a good diet can significantly reduce your symptoms if you suffer from conditions like fibromyalgia.

A good diet, along with regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself, no matter who you are.

So let us know, do you worry about getting enough lutein? How do you tweak your diet to keep yourself healthy? Tell us in the comments.