Carrots are renowned for boosting eye health, yet not everyone finds them appealing. Luckily, scientists have discovered that pistachios offer a similar benefit.
Researchers at Tufts University in Massachusetts, United States, have determined that eating just two ounces (57 grams) of pistachios daily can significantly enhance eye health.
Pistachios are abundant in lutein, an antioxidant that increases “macular pigment optical density” (MPOD). This increase helps filter harmful light from screens, protects the retina, and fights degeneration.
Statistics from the Macular Society indicate that nearly 1.5 million people in the United Kingdom suffer from macular disease.
During the trial, healthy adults with low lutein levels were instructed to eat two ounces of pistachios daily, doubling their antioxidant intake. Participants experienced a noticeable increase in MPOD after just six weeks.
While lutein is also present in other foods like broccoli and leafy greens, the natural fats in pistachios enhance the body’s ability to absorb antioxidants.
The study, receiving partial funding from American Pistachio Growers and the National Institutes of Health, was published in The Journal of Nutrition.
