Why You Need Astaxanthin – The Most Powerful Antioxidant on Earth
How to Fight Dangerous Free Radical Overload and WIN
Scientists long ago discovered that carotenoids held powerful antioxidant properties that are crucial for your health. These are the compounds in your foods that give you that vibrant cornucopia of color — from green grasses to red beets, to the spectacular yellows and oranges of bell peppers—as well as all of the beautiful flowers in your garden.
Recently, one particular carotenoid jumped to the front of the line in terms of its status as a “supernutrient,” becoming the focus of a large and growing number of peer-reviewed scientific studies. This carotenoid is called natural astaxanthin and is now thought to be the most powerful antioxidant found in nature.
There are only two main sources of astaxanthin—the microalgae that produce it, and the sea creatures that consume the algae (such as salmon, shellfish, and krill).
What Makes Astaxanthin So Special?
There are many properties that make this carotenoid unique. Here are the main differences:
Astaxanthin is by far the most powerful carotenoid antioxidant when it comes to free radical scavenging. It is 65 times more powerful than vitamin C, 54 times more powerful than beta-carotene, and 14 times more powerful than vitamin E.
Astaxanthin crosses the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier (beta carotene and lycopene do not), which brings antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection to your eyes, brain and central nervous system and reduces your risk for cataracts, macular degeneration, blindness, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Astaxanthin is soluble in lipids, so it incorporates into cell membranes.
- It’s a potent UVB absorber and reduces DNA damage.
- It’s a powerful natural anti-inflammatory.
- It protects your cell membranes and DNA from oxidative damage.
- It improves visual acuity and depth perception.
- It improves sun tolerance and reduces your tendency to sunburn.
- Astaxanthin improves strength and endurance.
There is some evidence that astaxanthin may have anti-inflammatory properties in adults with rheumatoid arthritis. One well-known University of Memphis study found that astaxanthin eased discomfort even after strenuous exercise.[1] Another study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reported reduced pain and greater mobility among people with joint pain after taking astaxanthin for only eight weeks.[2]
Astaxanthin not only helps protect your skin from sunburn, it can also reverse years of damage relatively quickly.[3] One of the ways it works is by protecting the skin’s outermost layer against oxidative stress. This enhances cell repair and collagen production, thus increasing skin moisture, reducing wrinkles and providing for firmer, more youthful looking skin.[4,5,6]
Here are some general dose ranges: 3-12 mg.
Astaxanthin supplements can be relatively expensive. The cost to obtain 4 mg of astaxanthin can range from just 15 cents to more than 3 times that amount. Considering that a daily serving can be around 12 mg, products cost as much as $2 per day.
Our top astaxanthin supplement picks are:
Sources:
1. Fry, A. Astaxanthin Clinical Trial for Delayed Onset Muscular Soreness. Human Performance Laboratories, The University of Memphis, Report 1, August 16, 2001.
2. Nir, Y., Spiller, G. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 21(5):Oct, 2002.
3. Arakane, Y. Superior skin protection via Astaxanthin. Cartenoid Science. April 2002, Vol. 5
4. Pashkow, FJ et al. Astaxanthin: A Novel Potential Treatment for Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease. Am J Cardio. 22 May 2008;101:10, S58-S68.
5. Kim YJ, Kim YA, Yokozawa T. Protection against oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis of high-glucose-exposed proximal tubular epithelial cells by astaxanthin. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Oct 14;57(19):8793-7. doi: 10.1021/jf9019745.
6. Park JS, Chyun JH, Kim YK, Line LL, Chew BP. Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and enhanced immune response in humans. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 Mar 5;7:18. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-7-18.
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