Saffron may improve individuals' eye health

February 8, 2010

Some medical experts have reported that nutrients such as lutein and vitamin E have the ability to improve your eye health. However, a new study suggests that saffron may also keep individuals from losing their vision.

Researchers from the University of Sydney determined that saffron, which is a spice in curry that gives food a yellow color, may help reverse age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to The Daily Mail.

After giving participants a pill containing saffron, researchers noticed an improvement in their eye health, which indicated that the spice may be a beneficial addition to an individual's diet.

"When they were tested with traditional eye charts, a number of them could read one or two lines smaller than before, while others reported they could read newspapers and books again," explained study author Silvia Bisti.

According to the American Optometric Association, other dietary nutrients that might be beneficial to eye health include zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C. All of these nutrients can be found in either fruits or vegetables, or through dietary supplements.