Which specific carotenoids found in red bell peppers accumulate in the eye's macula to potentially decrease long-term ocular risks?
Answer
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
The deep red pigmentation signals high levels of fat-soluble compounds crucial for eye health, primarily the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. These two compounds have a specific biological function where they accumulate directly within the macula of the eye. Current nutritional science indicates that maintaining adequate levels of lutein and zeaxanthin is beneficial because they function to filter out harmful blue light that can cause damage over time. This filtering action is hypothesized to decrease the long-term risk associated with developing debilitating eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, thus supporting long-term visual acuity.
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