There are thousands of published research papers concerning the benefits of taking lutein. Most of the benefits of lutein are associated with eye health. In particular, the antioxidant is believed to reduce the risk of age-related eye diseases and the risk of blindness that can be caused by them. But, that's not the only thing that researchers have looked at.



This may be a new term for you; “diet-related cancer”. Are scientists saying that food causes cancer? Not really, but they are saying that certain dietary habits are associated with an increased risk of the disease. The latest study indicates that there are benefits of taking lutein, vitamin E, vitamin C, folate, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin for reducing your risk of cancer, especially, if you happen to be Mexican American.

Observational studies have shown that there is a higher incidence of cancer among Mexican Americans that adopt the typical American diet than among those that stick with the more traditional Mexican diet. Researchers took blood samples from 2400 Mexican American men over a period of six years. They found the levels of the nutrients mentioned above were much lower in those men that had adopted American eating habits.

Another recent study showed that the benefits of lutein include a decreased risk of invasive breast cancer among women of all nationalities. Samples were taken from thousands of women in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. They were asked about their diets and their smoking habits. The results are similar to those found in other studies. Low intake of beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.

Another study supports others in saying that the benefits of taking lutein include the prevention of age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration can be caused by other things. But, when it occurs late in life, it is, for all intents and purposes, a nutritional disease. The carotenoids lycopene, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene are also beneficial for preventing this eye disease that often results in blindness.

Some people feel that the benefits of lutein and other carotenoids can be gotten through diet, alone. But, recent research conducted first in Canada and then in the US has shown that fruits and vegetables are not as nutrient-rich as they were only 50 years ago. Did you realize that the data for nutrient content that you see published on the internet and printed on the labels of processed foods are based on measurements taken years ago?

It is safe to say that you should probably eat more fruits and vegetables, for many reasons, but if you want the full benefits of lutein, you need a standardized supplement. The better companies test each raw ingredient and batch for nutritional value, rather than taking an average that was measured some 50 years prior. They also test each completed batch for purity.

Avoiding diet-related cancer is one of the benefits of taking lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, folate, lycopene and other nutrients. This is a form of health insurance that everyone can afford.