In September of 1937, pulp magazine Spicy Mystery Stories introduced the world to Olga Mesmer, the Girl with X-ray Eyes. Olga was a comic book character who owed her X-ray vision and super strength to experiments done by her mad scientist father on her Venusian mother, Margot, during which Margot was exposed to radiation. Thusly endowed, Olga’s superpowers, “dormant in childhood, burst into light” leading Olga to “embark on a remarkable career.”
If there is anything to be gotten from this, it is clearly that good vision leads to greatness. However, not all of us are born to an extraterrestrial mother and mad scientist father. Luckily, there is an alternative way of keeping our vision in tip-top shape: proper vitamins. Here are a few of the best vitamins for healthy eyes.
Lutein
Not just any eye vitamin, lutein is “the eye vitamin.” Lutein is an anti-inflammatory antioxidant found in egg yolks, green, leafy veggies, orange veggies and citrus fruit. Once it enters the body, it gets transported to parts of the eye called the lens and macula. Harvard University Researchers found that six milligrams of lutein daily can decrease the likelihood of macular degeneration by about 43%, so let’s make lutein our routine!
Zeaxanthin
Out of the 600 carotenoids in nature, only 20% effect the eyes. Lutein and zeaxanthin top the list as heavyweights because the macula receives them in the highest quantities. Zeaxanthin protects eye tissue and helps to clear the vision and prevent light sensitivity, glare, and cataracts.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps to fight free radicals and helps the body to absorb nutrients and minerals. A long term study done on 3,000 adults, aged 43-86, found that cataracts were 60% less common among people whose multivitamins contained vitamin C and vitamin E.
Vitamin E
Combined with vitamins A and C, vitamin E works to keep tissue and cells in good health and protected from inflammation. These antioxidants can help to lower the risk of macular degeneration related to aging and the combination of vitamins E and A can promote healing and improve the effects of laser eye surgery. Studies show that people who consume 400 IUs of vitamin E daily lower their risk of macular degeneration by 25% and another showed that high levels of vitamin E and lutein were associated with a decreased risk of cataracts. Plus, it works wonders for your skin!
Zinc
Studies showed that, when combined with other vitamins, zinc can protect the retina and decrease the likelihood of macular degeneration. It is good for the tissues in the eyes because of the roles it plays in cell growth and division, the maintenance of good circulation, the balance of hormones used to counter autoimmune reactions, and the control of inflammatories that attack the tissue. Since zinc is not naturally made by the body, it needs to be gotten by grass fed meat, organ meat, fish, and nuts.
So, if you want a life of adventure and greatness without exposure to radiation, these vitamins may be just the thing! Let us know what works for your eyes and we would also love to hear what Olga Mesmer is up to these days if anyone knows.
