Retina - Highest Oxygen Consuming Tissue of the Body

Did you know that the retina is the highest oxygen-consuming tissue of the body?

According to the January 17, 2003 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry "... the relative oxygen consumption of the mammalian retina is higher than that of the brain and other tissues. It is assumed that, on a per gram basis, the retina is one of the highest oxygen demanding tissues of the human body."

Because the many visual functions of the retina require large amounts of oxygen there is also a high degree of oxidation which means that the retina is very vulnerable to free radical damage.

Prevent and Repair Retinal Degeneration

And free radicals cause damage to our eyes resulting in eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. Foods high in antioxidants fight to prevent and repair the damage caused by these rogue electrons. 

Perhaps like me you need a reminder on how important it is to include antioxidant rich foods in your diet. From fruits and vegetables to green tea and raw cacao, get a list of foods that are most able to fight oxidative damage going on in your eyes: