Eye strain has become a common ailment for office workers and a precursor to various eye diseases. So, what can be done about eye strain? Research has found that eating corn can help alleviate eye fatigue, and the following text provides a detailed introduction to this.
The greatest contribution of corn to humanity is its rich content of pigments that color it golden—lutein and zeaxanthin (a type of carotenoid). Although they are not nutrients themselves, their functions are superior to many nutrients. They are powerful antioxidants that can protect the light-sensitive area of the eye called the macula, preventing the occurrence of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. The macula is the tissue located in the center of the retina that controls vision.
As we age, the fats in the macula area oxidize and are damaged, leading to macular degeneration, decreased vision, and even blindness. Lutein and zeaxanthin, with their powerful antioxidant properties, can absorb harmful light that enters the eye, thereby maintaining the health of the macula.
However, it is important to note that only yellow corn contains lutein and zeaxanthin; white corn does not. Therefore, people who frequently use their eyes, such as taxi drivers, primary and secondary school students, editors, and writers, should eat more yellow corn to effectively relieve eye fatigue. The next time you have a headache and eye strain, you might consider choosing yellow corn.
In addition, corn also contains multiple anti-cancer factors, such as glutathione, lutein and zeaxanthin, and trace elements selenium and magnesium. Glutathione can "handcuff" carcinogenic substances with its own "cuffs," rendering them inactive and expelling them from the body through the digestive tract. It is also a powerful antioxidant that can accelerate the deactivation of aging free radicals, making it the most effective anti-cancer substance in the human body. Corn also contains selenium and magnesium. Selenium can accelerate the decomposition of peroxides in the body, causing malignant tumors to die from lack of oxygen. Magnesium, on one hand, can inhibit the development of cancer cells, and on the other hand, can help the body expel waste more quickly, thus playing a role in cancer prevention. Furthermore, lutein in corn can prevent colon cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, and uterine cancer, while zeaxanthin can prevent skin cancer and lung cancer.
Corn is rich in niacin, which is a component of the glucose tolerance factor (GTF) and a nutrient that can enhance the effect of insulin. Therefore, substituting corn for staple foods can help regulate blood sugar.
Eating corn not only relieves eye strain but can also prevent various cancers such as skin cancer.