These bright yellow brilliant flowers are rich in an incredible trio of eye-loving carotenoids: lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin. These compounds are highly concentrated in the macula region of our retinas. A healthy macula dense in these yellowish pigments is what allows us to see details — what is called visual acuity. These pigments are like internal sunglasses helping to shield our eyes from excess light, including blue light from screens. Strong evidence suggests that many of us do not consume adequate amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin from our diets. A nutritional cousin of lutein and zeaxanthin called meso-zeaxanthin is produced from lutein in the retina itself, a transformation that slows down as we get older, a good reason to supplement these in their pure, natural form every day. Countless studies indicate that these carotenoids are invaluable for supporting eye health as we age.
Marigold extract provides only the "free" forms of lutein and zeaxanthin, which research shows are up to two times or more bioavailable than the cheaper, more commonly used ester form, and are therefore considered the gold standard.
