When we consider our diet as a way to improve our health and wellbeing we often don’t think about our eyesight. However, research has shown that what we eat can have an impact on our vision. And one expert recommended adding a specific spice to meals as a way to promote eye health.
“These studies have shown even a daily dose range of 20 to 50mg for three months or more can improve contrast sensitivity and the ability to see letters on a test chart.”
The spice could also aid in preventing other conditions.
“Preliminary studies have also been carried out on the effects of saffron supplements on eye conditions such as glaucoma (a disease that causes damage to the optic nerve of the eye usually caused by high eye pressure) and diabetic maculopathy (damage to the macular caused by diabetes),” she said.
“Results were similarly positive with researchers reporting lowered eye pressure for glaucoma and improved vision with patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy.
It said: “Saffron and its main constituents, i.e, crocin and crocetin, are natural carotenoid compounds, which have been reported to possess a wide spectrum of properties and induce pleiotropic anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and neuroprotective effects.
“An increasing number of experimental, animal, and human studies have investigated the effects and mechanistic pathways of these compounds in order to assess their potential therapeutic use in ocular diseases (e.g, in age related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic maculopathy).”
The study summarised: “Saffron supplementation appears to have promising potential as an effective and safe adjunct therapy in certain ocular diseases.”
However, Dr Jones warned: “It is very important to speak to your GP before commencing any supplementation herbal or otherwise as adverse effects can occur, especially in older adults, those with kidney and bleeding disorders and pregnant women who may be particularly at risk.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
