Maqui Berry Helps Promote Eye Function, Skin Health & More*

While the maqui berry might not be the first fruit that comes to mind when you hear the word "berry," this antioxidant-packed superfruit is definitely one to know about. Still, even if you're new to maqui, you may want to learn more about all the different benefits it can offer.

Native to South America, maqui berry has been traditionally used by the Mapuche Indians in Chile as both a food source and healing botanical. Rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, the maqui berry can be used today to support visual performance in the digital age, promote balanced blood sugar levels, and even bolster a healthy inflammatory response at the cellular level.*

Maqui berry, also known as Aristotella chilensis, is a superfruit that can be eaten raw or squeezed into a juice. Maqui berry has been used for healing purposes for years as it is plentiful in antioxidants, which are crucial to quenching free radicals and supporting overall health at a cellular level.*

"Oxidative stress occurs when the cells in our bodies react to oxygen-reactive species, which can negatively impact our cellular signaling," optometrist Victor Paul, O.D., of DeCesare Eye Care, tells mindbodygreen. "Environmental stressors—including UV rays and pollutants, to name a few—increase free radicals in our bodies."

In a 2015 randomized controlled trial (RCT) published by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers found that maqui berry extract helped improve oxidative status in healthy adults.* You can thank the berry's phytonutrients anthocyanin and delphinidin for these impressive antioxidant actions.

"Almost all of the proposed benefits of maqui berry [are] because of the high amount of anthocyanin (and, specifically, the bioactive compound delphinidin) in the fruit," Giovinazzo explains. "The phytonutrient works primarily by promoting a healthy inflammatory pathway in our body. Anthocyanins reduce oxidative stress by combating free radicals, including UV rays (to help promote healthy skin and anti-aging) and lipid peroxidation."*

In a recent animal study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, scientists found that oxidative stress implicated cellular structures, giving rise to undesirable conditions and faster aging. The anthocyanin and delphinidin levels in maqui berries promote an overall healthy homeostasis in the body, staving off the oxidative stress linked to such life-disrupting health issues.*

Smaller amounts of free radicals can also promote healthy, youthful skin1 that's so shiny and bright it almost glows. Studies show that maqui berry combats the enzymes known to break down collagen, keeping the elasticity of your skin cells so they can look as young and vibrant as possible.*

"Due to maqui berry's healthy pro-inflammatory actions, it can help with eye dryness in addition to improving overall tear production,"* Paul explains.

"Maqui berries are rich in antioxidant content, which can help optimize inflammatory pathways on the ocular surface by combating oxidative stress that impacts our oil glands, helping to restore a stable tear film,"* he adds.

"Maqui berry might support cardiovascular function2 in two ways," Giovinazzo says. "The first is through its antioxidant effects, which help neutralize free radicals, and the second is through potential antiplatelet properties, which help the blood be less sticky."* 

Giovinazzo adds, "[These cardiovascular benefits] seem quite possible due to the high amount of anthocyanins in maqui berry."*

Speaking of the cardiovascular benefits maqui berry can offer, that improved cardiovascular function goes hand in hand with maqui's ability to potentially help balance blood sugar.*

"Initial research suggests that maqui berry might help balance blood sugar3 by lowering the blood sugar 'spike' after eating and helping sugar be removed from the body through the urine,"* Giovinazzo says. This can help support insulin sensitivity, metabolic health, and even healthy body composition.*

"Maqui berry is loaded with vitamins that help our bodies perform their basic metabolic functions,"* Paul says. "Vitamins in general act as coenzymes and help to regulate our metabolism. Someone who is looking to get added nutrition, regulate his or her metabolism, and have increased immune support may want to consider taking maqui berries."*

For anyone wanting to add maqui berry to their daily routine, there are several different ways to get it in your system (and start reaping its benefits).

"Maqui berry comes in powders, gummies, and extract to be taken orally. Powders can be made into drinks and shakes, gummies can be swallowed, and extracts can also be put into liquids," Paul explains.

For anyone interested in getting their maqui berry from a supplement, look for maqui berry as a main ingredient. It's also sometimes referred to as "Chilean wineberry" on supplement labels.

There's also mindbodygreen's eye health+ to consider—it delivers the benefits of maqui berry, astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins and minerals to promote visual sharpness, focus, and performance; support eye strain and screen fatigue recovery; enhance eye lubrication and tear production; bolster blue light filtering and photoprotection; and provide targeted macular and retinal support.*

The surprising benefits of maqui berry make for a long, long list. While you may not have heard of this superfruit before, it's not one to be ignored (especially if you seek eye health benefits since it contains antioxidants with targeted daily retinal and macular support that help enhance visual sharpness, support ocular blood flow, and bolster eye lubrication).* 

Taking a targeted eye longevity supplement in which maqui berry is a featured ingredient—like mindbodygreen's eye health+—can be helpful for anyone looking to enhance their visual performance, reduce their sensitivity to light, or support recovery from screen fatigue.* Other potential maqui berry benefits include eye strain reset support, blood sugar balance, and support for healthy inflammatory response at the cellular level.*