Kemin Signs Lutein Promotion Partnership with Blind Para-triathlete Champion

To keep eyes healthy, research indicates that people need 10 mg of lutein everyday through foods/beverages and eye vitamins. Most Americans are only getting 2 mg or less through their diet alone.

Nov 5 2010 --- Kemin Health, L.C. makers of FloraGLO, the lutein brand most clinically researched and trusted, and recommended by more doctors, announces a partnership with blind National and World Para-triathlete Champion Aaron Scheidies, who will serve as a FloraGLO spokesperson to spread the word, through a variety of initiatives, about the importance of nutrition to eye health.

“I am excited to represent a company that is just as passionate as I am in educating the public about essential nutrients eyes need everyday to function at their best.  We hear so much in media about ways to maintain a healthy heart, steps to combat obesity and high cholesterol, and even control diabetes,” said Scheidies. “As someone who is visually impaired, it's also important for people to know and understand there are ways they can keep their eyes healthy now and help reduce the risk of eye conditions as they age. Through eating more foods rich in lutein and by taking eye vitamins with FloraGLO Lutein, people can ‘feed’ their eyes as their own first line of defense for healthy vision. No need to be a spectator when dealing with your eye health when you can be an active participant.”

Born with a hereditary eye disease that slowly deteriorates his central vision, Scheidies, 28, has overcome more in his short life than many conquer in a lifetime. After struggling early on to come to terms with Youth Macular Degeneration, he found solace in the sport of triathlon during his teens and turned his life around.  Now, a five-time triathlon World Champion and seven-time National Champion in the Physically Challenged category, Scheidies only has 10% of the vision of a fully sighted person.

“Our world revolves around visual stimulation and sight.” Scheidies, the Seattle-based athlete went on to say, “Without it, everything is more difficult, so my visual impairment has made me a stronger person mentally, physically and emotionally.”

In addition to his athletic success, Scheidies, who is also a physical therapist, is a driven advocate determined to change society’s views on vision and eye health.  Senior Vice President of Marketing for Kemin Health, Linda Fullmer says, “What impresses us most about Aaron is his unwavering commitment to himself and others. As a professional athlete and person, Aaron’s passion is contagious and an inspiration to us all.”

To keep eyes healthy, research indicates that people need 10 mg of lutein everyday through foods/beverages and eye vitamins. Most Americans are only getting 2 mg or less through their diet alone.  Fullmer adds, “Our mission is to educate the public about how important it is to replenish the lutein levels in our eyes on a daily basis.  Everyday, our eyes are bombarded by harmful bright light and free radicals that deplete these levels leaving our eyes less well protected.  In fact, nearly half of the US population has low levels of lutein in their eyes, a risk factor for age-related disease.  Too many people are still unaware that there are easy steps, like taking a daily eye vitamin, that can protect and prolong their vision.”

Selected by leading eye vitamin manufacturers for its quality and established safety and research profile, FloraGLO is the most clinically researched lutein brand worldwide and the brand clinically proven to be absorbed by the body and to increase lutein levels in the eye for optimal protection.  FloraGLO brand lutein (www.floraglolutein.com) provides the same lutein found naturally in vegetables and other foods to keep eyes healthy and functioning at their best.

“As a pro-athlete, I'm very careful about what I put in my body, so when I was introduced to FloraGLO, I was very impressed by the amount of research that has gone into it and its proven results,” said Scheidies. “I have always taken a multi-vitamin, but I'm really happy to add an eye vitamin with FloraGLO Lutein to my daily supplement intake.  It makes sense to use and support a product that works.”