Key points from article :
A recent study from the University of California, Davis, suggests that regularly eating dried goji berries may protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of vision loss in older adults.
This small study focused on 13 healthy participants, aged 45 to 65, who consumed 28 grams (about one ounce) of goji berries five times a week for 90 days. The researchers found that this group experienced an increase in protective pigments, lutein and zeaxanthin, in their eyes. These pigments are known to filter harmful blue light and provide antioxidant protection, helping to guard the eyes against age-related damage.
In contrast, a control group of 14 participants who took commercial supplements designed for eye health did not see any significant increase in these pigments. The findings suggest that goji berries may provide a natural, food-based way to boost eye health, even in people without existing eye conditions.
The study's lead author emphasized that lutein and zeaxanthin act like "sunscreen" for the eyes, offering additional protection as people age. Goji berries, which are popular in Chinese medicine for their "eye-brightening" properties, contain bioavailable forms of these pigments, meaning they are easily absorbed by the body.
Although the results are promising, the researchers caution that the study size was small, and more research is needed to confirm these findings in larger and more diverse populations. The study was published in the journal Nutrients, and the team plans to further investigate the effects of goji berries in patients with early-stage AMD. This could potentially lead to new dietary recommendations for protecting vision as people age.
