As the summer months fly by, many have already begun to prepare for the “back-to-school” chaos. Between shopping for school supplies, knowing your classes, and transitioning your mindset from summer to school, there’s a lot going on! However, the last thing on many back-to-schoolers’ minds is improving academic performance through nutrition. The truth is: it’s as easy as taking a daily eye vitamin. Don’t believe it? Read on to learn more!

What’s an MPOD?

Before we go any further, we need to understand what MPOD is. MPOD is an acronym that stands for macular pigment optical density. Macular pigment is a protective layer found in the retina that blocks damaging light from the cells responsible for vision. Think of it like internal sunglasses. This layer’s protective quality depends on its thickness or density, and MPOD is the measurement of that density. The higher the MPOD score, the better the protection.

As an added benefit to protection, your internal sunglasses are polarized! This means that they offer visual benefits, too. Some of these include:

• Visual acuity – what’s measured by an eye chart
• Contrast sensitivity – your ability to see subtle differences between colors/shades
• Glare recovery – the time it takes for your eyes to “see normally” after a bright light
• Light sensitivity – the discomfort and squinting the occurs when outside in a sunny day

Everyone is born with macular pigment at a certain density, but that protective layer thins over time. This is because the thickness of this layer is altered through nutrition, specifically by ingesting two dietary antioxidants called zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin) and lutein (loo-teen). Unfortunately, these two nutrients are scarce in the average diet (and even scarcer in a child’s diet!), and this is why many Americans’ MPOD scores are below the ideal level.

So how do you improve MPOD? Stay tuned!

How Does MPOD Relate to Academics?

For many in the healthcare field, they refer to the eyes as the windows to the brain. This is because the optic nerve connects directly to the brain and many neurological issues surface in the retinas. Additionally, eye movements are closely linked to cognitive processes like attention, memory, and decision-making.

You may be wondering “What does MPOD have to do with this?” Well, research shows that MPOD levels are correlated with cognitive functions. Studies show that the higher the MPOD levels, the better the brain function, specifically in areas like memory, executive function (i.e., c), and focus.

Where do you think improvements in these skills would be beneficial? That’s right! SCHOOL! There are several studies linking higher MPOD levels specifically to improved academic performance, and it’s all thanks to those powerful antioxidants we talked about before. Zeaxanthin and lutein are also found in the brain, and the levels of those nutrients in the eyes correlate to the levels in the brain. The more zeaxanthin and lutein, the better the MPOD. The better the MPOD, the better the cognitive function and academic performance!

Improving MPOD

Now, you’re probably wondering “How does one improve MPOD for improved cognitive skills?” Believe it or not, it’s a magic pill!

Well, not really magic. More like nutritional. Because zeaxanthin and lutein are so scarce in the diet (think 20+ ears of corn a day!), most healthcare practitioners recommend supplementation to improve MPOD levels. While there are a lot of supplements on the market, only one has the dietary zeaxanthin and lutein levels needed to guarantee an increase in MPOD.

EyePromise for MPOD

EyePromise is the #1 eye doctor recommended eye vitamin available. Its clinically proven formulations are utilized by professional athletes to give them an edge over their competition. EyePromise is the only eye vitamin that includes the amounts of dietary zeaxanthin necessary to improve MPOD and support cognitive function. In fact, EyePromise is so confident in its formulations, we guarantee an increase in MPOD in 6 months or your money back!

And remember, higher MPOD levels are linked to better cognitive function and academic performance!

Now, we’re not saying that by taking EyePromise, you or your kids will do better in school, but it certainly couldn’t hurt! We recommend EyePromise Screen Shield™ Teen for children ages 4-17. Designed by eye health experts, this one-a-day, fruit punch-flavored chewable tablet delivers all the essential nutrients for developing eyes, including dietary zeaxanthin and lutein. More importantly, it doesn’t have sugar, gluten, or GMOs.

For adults, a great place to start is Screen Shield Pro. Another one-a-day formula, this vitamin comes in a softgel and includes a more comprehensive ingredient list that still includes dietary zeaxanthin and lutein.

Learn more about these two incredible formulations, and start improving your MPOD and cognitive skills today!