The list of blackcurrant benefits is quite impressive. This type of fruit has a positive influence on the brain, digestion, asthma and general lung function, colds and flu. In addition, the blackcurrant is the perfect food product that protects the eye and even provides, among other things, improved night vision. Research shows that blackcurrants are much more powerful than lutein, zeaxanthin or blueberries, which also support eye health.
- Natural anthocyanins for good eye health
- Benefits of blackcurrant for the eye
- Eye protection
- Intake of blackcurrants
Natural anthocyanins for good eye health
Blackcurrants are a good example of an eye-healthy food. The blackcurrant contains a very high number of natural anthocyanins. These are the purple-black pigments that provide the color of the blackcurrant. Anthocyanins, which have given rise to the name “black currant”, are powerful plant or phyto-antioxidants. These berries produce anthocyanins to protect their seeds against the harmful effects of UV rays. Blackcurrant seeds provide a rich source of both the omega-3 fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid and omega-6 fatty acids gamma-linolenic acid.
Benefits of blackcurrant for the eye
Improve night vision
Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants. They contain three important benefits for the eyes that have been scientifically proven. First, these highly colored plant pigments nourish the retina, the medical term for “the retina.” To see well at night, the retina must continuously produce rod red (rhodopsin). Rhodopsin is a red dye found in the rods. Anthocyanins serve as “building blocks” for this important substance. People with normal vision who were given either blackcurrant or blueberry extract in one study were found to have improved night vision clarity , as well as the speed at which they adapt to darkness and the speed at which they recover from glare.
Improve short-distance vision
Another advantage concerns the preservation of vision at short distances . Nowadays everyone likes to work with the computer. This is one of the activities where vision is often used at short distances. Light has harmful effects on the retina of the eye. The smooth muscles then become tense, affecting the adaptability of the eye. The blackcurrant can help with this and is therefore significantly stronger than the blueberry.
Combat fatigue
In addition to myopia, the muscle tension also results in visual fatigue . The fatigue usually spreads quickly from the eyes to the neck, head, arms, shoulders and lower back. Taking anthocyanin is then very useful. The anthocyanins remove the harmful effects of light on the back of the eye. Of course, in addition to taking blueberry extract, it is also recommended to rest the eyes for at least a few seconds to minutes every hour.
Eye protection
Due to the aging of society, more and more people are visually impaired and blind. Macular degeneration and cataracts are different degenerative eye diseases that are characteristic of the aging of the eye. These conditions are influenced by the rate of free radical formation. Multiple studies show that blueberries are beneficial for eye health and many conditions are often largely preventable through an antioxidant-rich diet. In addition, blackcurrant also offers protection against the insidious eye disease glaucoma. The intraocular pressure is too high in patients, causing damage to the optic nerves. The blackcurrant lowers this eye pressure, which the ophthalmologist measures via tonometry.
Intake of blackcurrants
Blackcurrants are a true vitamin bomb for the eyes. However, this requires an intake of 50 to 100 mg or more of anthocyanins per day. This can be taken via capsules containing blackcurrant seed oil. People can of course also eat the blackcurrants themselves, especially in season. Fresh berries are best sourced from New Zealand. The climate and growing conditions there are much more favorable and healthier.
The blackcurrant is head and shoulders the right eye-healthy food product.
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