It may seem impossible to escape the harmful effects of our work lives and our environment on our eye health. In today’s digital age, our eyes are constantly exposed to and strained by screens. And when we take a break for a bit of fresh air, the sun’s UV light can do just as much damage to eye health.
The good news is that there is a simple, proactive way to protect your vision from the effects of screens, UV light, and aging — eye health supplements. Recent scientific studies are redefining the standard for eye health supplements, and one natural solution that is gaining popularity is Marigold.
The Importance of Maintaining Eye Health
Our eyes give us access to 80% of the knowledge we will gain in our lives, yet we don’t always give them due credit for being one of the most vital organs in our body.
Our optic nerve carries signals for not only what we see, but how quickly we can respond to it, in other words, our eyes are tied to our cognitive function and speed of processing information in addition to how well we see. When we take care of our eye health, we also take care of our brains.
Why Choose Marigolds for Eye Health?
The medical benefits of Marigolds are almost exclusive to a certain breed of marigolds that are known as the Mexican Marigold, Aztec Marigold, cempasúchil, or Tagetes erecta. This Marigold should not be confused with calendula officinalis, which is sometimes used in herbal treatments because of the specific benefits of the calendula flower when it comes to soothing burns, cuts, and other skin irritations.
The Tagetes erecta Marigold has a bright yellow-orange hue that is selectively grown for its high content of Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are carotenoids primarily responsible for the impressive health benefits of Marigolds.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin are also considered macular pigments. These carotenoids are naturally found in the macula and retina of the eye, where light enters the body, and the visual process begins. Levels of macular pigment in the eye correlate directly with cognitive function and the reaction time related to visual processing.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin are both able to cross the blood-brain barrier and extend their antioxidant activity to the brain as well. We often get these two carotenoids in trace amounts from foods such as corn, spinach, and kale. Yet, almost no one is eating enough of these vegetables to restore the eyes to a truly vital state. The high concentration of these carotenoids in the Marigold plant, and the potent ratio they naturally occur in, makes herbal blends with Marigolds for eye health superior eye health supplements. The medical benefits of Marigolds are also best achieved when using an organic and sustainable source of Marigold or Marigold extract.
The Health Benefits of Marigolds for Eye Health
When using Marigolds for eye health, you’re protecting your eye health proactively, supporting natural photo stress recovery, and providing your eyes with some relief from the eye strain that can result from digital screen use. This is why the medical benefits of marigolds include antioxidant effects that can be leveraged in the “prevention of phototoxic damage to the eye,” which has been proven in animal studies. Vision benefits aren’t all Marigolds have to offer, though.
Additional health benefits of Marigolds thanks to Lutein and Zeaxanthin include:
- skin health
- sleep quality
- mood stability
- cognitive performance
- digestive tract cleansing
- cellular vitality
- postpartum healing support
In Ayurveda, the cooling and refreshing effect of Marigolds can also help calm the excess fire in the body that can be linked to inflammation. For Pitta and Kapha Dosha types, this is a health benefit of Marigolds that should not be overlooked.
Choosing Your Eye Health Supplements
John M. Nolan, an award-winning Ph.D., has researched macular pigment for vision health and as a biomarker for brain function. After his 42-day study on the supplementation of Lutein and Zeaxanthin, he said, “I came into this exercise very anti-supplement… I tried to make food the solution.” However, he now recognizes that the Lutein and Zeaxanthin combination “is another example of a nutrient we should all be taking.”
His trials demonstrated that visual functions are significantly improved when the macular pigments in the eyes are supported by an eye health supplement — both for those experiencing aging or degeneration and those with relatively healthy eyes.
Digi Eye Defense
Digi Eye Defense is an Ayurvedic blend that is formulated to support optimal eye health. It contains an antioxidant and carotenoid blend that includes sustainably produced and ethically harvested Marigolds. When it comes to UV light exposure and eye strain, Digi Eye Defense helps protect, nourish, and normalize eye health. In the broader scope of eye health, Digi Eye Defense supports healthy visual acuity, night vision, normal eye pressure, and healthy ocular blood flow. This blend is especially great for Pitta and Kapha types given its cooling nature and balancing bitter and astringent qualities.
Eye Clear
Eye Clear is an advanced vision support formula that helps with age-related eye issues, and brain health, may help maintain collagen in the corneas, supports the body’s natural recovery phase, and aids in healthy blood sugar balance — a health marker that has been shown to correspond to healthy vision. Eye Clear contains Lutein and Zeaxanthin from organic Marigold extract as well as nutrient-dense Amla, Triphala, and blood-sugar balance-supporting Turmeric. In addition to the eye health benefits of the Eye Clear blend, this Ayurvedic team of herbs also supports memory, focus, and concentration.
