In recent years, myopia has become an important problem affecting children's health. In addition to congenital genetic factors, there are also acquired environmental factors.
The causes of myopia in many children include spending too much time with their eyes, reading in a book, strong and weak light, genetic factors, and infrequent outdoor activities. Faced with the problem of myopia, many parents choose to give their children lutein, so does lutein really work?
First of all, we need to understand what lutein is. Lutein is a yellow pigment found in plants, known as "phytoprogesterone", which is widely found in vegetables, fruits, flowers and other plants, and plays an important role in human health. The effect on the eyes is particularly obvious.
Lutein can help the eyes absorb and reflect blue light, reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays to the eyes, protect the eyes from light damage, and reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. At the same time, lutein can also help the eyes secrete tears, keep the eyes moist and clean, and prevent dry eyes, fatigue and vision loss.
Although lutein is good for the eyes, not all children need to supplement with lutein. In general, healthy children get enough lutein through their diet. Common foods that contain lutein include spinach, kale, and kiwifruit, which are all lutein-rich foods.
In addition, corn, citrus, pumpkin, etc. are also rich in lutein, so as long as the child's diet is healthy and the intake of enough lutein, there is generally no need for additional supplements.
However, for children with myopia, consuming lutein is beneficial. Children with myopia are often prone to eye fatigue and vision loss, and lutein can help the eyes secrete tears, keep the eyes moist and clean, and prevent dry eyes, fatigue and vision loss.
In addition, lutein can also improve the antioxidant capacity of the eye, help the eye resist free radical damage, and reduce the degeneration of the retina and macula. Therefore, for children with myopia, proper supplementation of lutein is beneficial.
However, it is important to note that more lutein supplementation is not always better. Although lutein is beneficial for the eyes, supplementing in excess may have an impact on physical health. Studies have found that excessive lutein supplementation may lead to high levels of vitamin A in the blood, which can increase the burden on the liver and kidneys.
In addition, the absorption and utilization of lutein is also affected by the diet, and if excessive intake of fat and protein, it may reduce the absorption and utilization of lutein. Therefore, when supplementing lutein, it should be done in moderation and avoid excessive supplementation.
Finally, in addition to supplementing lutein, protecting eye health also requires attention to eye hygiene and reasonable eye habits. Don't stare at computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices for a long time, take a break every once in a while, look into the distance, and do eye exercises, so that your eyes can be fully rested and relaxed.
At the same time, it is also very important to maintain adequate sleep time and good eating habits, and only by paying full attention to eye protection can children have healthy and bright eyes.