If you're reading this, then you're probably wondering what are the benefits of taking Astaxanthin? Astaxanthin is one of the most potent and powerful antioxidants in the world. The anti-inflammatory elements of Astaxanthin, based on its antioxidant properties have been proven to benefit and improve health including anti-aging effects. If you’ve been looking to add a powerhouse ingredient to your daily diet, then you’ve come to the right place.
What Is Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring xanthophyll carotenoid. Originally isolated from lobsters and found in sea crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs, krill, and fish such as salmon, Astaxanthin helps fight free radical damage and reduce oxidative stress to enhance immune system health.
Astaxanthin Benefits Anti-Aging & Skin Health
One of the many benefits of taking Astaxanthin, is slowing the aging process. Aging manifests itself as wrinkles, age spots, and degradation of skin elasticity. The progression of wrinkle formation is largely due to UV exposure, dryness of the skin and skin inflammation, which occurs from oxidative stress. Several studies have indicated that Astaxanthin has a positive benefit on skin health. Specifically, Astaxanthin helps suppress the inflammatory response caused by oxidative stress related to UV radiation. Therefore, supplementing Astaxanthin prophylactically will help reduce the formation and progression of aging, wrinkles, and degradation of skin elasticity. [R]
Astaxanthin Benefits Heart Health
Oxidative stress and inflammation also have a direct correlation with cardiovascular health. Astaxanthin is an anti-inflammatory and reduces oxidative stress, therefore it can help in reducing the chances of cardiovascular events and mortality. In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, study participants were administered 12mg of Astaxanthin a day for eight weeks. The results were astounding, as the study showed a 20% decrease in levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), the blood marker for heart disease. Therefore, taking Astaxanthin can definitely help benefit heart health [R]
Astaxanthin Benefits Brain Health
If you could take preventive action to help preserve your memories and think more clearly, wouldn't you do it? As you get older you’re at an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease. Aging is associated with physiological changes, which can compromise memory, attention, clarity, and perception, leading to severe cognitive or neurological deficit. It’s a natural progression in the aging process. The brain is highly susceptible to oxidative stress due to its high metabolic function and activity. More potent than other antioxidants such as beta-carotene, Astaxanthin is highly versatile and can absorb free radicals into its molecular structure, providing neuroprotective effects [R] Thus, Astaxanthin is proven to be a very effective therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disease, helping memory and clarity. [R]
What Foods Are High In Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin can be found in various types of seafood, such as
- lobster
- crab
- krill oil
- shrimp
- crawfish
- red trout
- salmon
Astaxanthin Benefits: Takeaway
Clearly, the associated health benefits of taking Astaxanthin are dumbfounding. With the powerful health benefits on the cardiovascular system, brain, and anti-aging effects it seems like a no-brainer to add this powerful antioxidant to your daily regimen.
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References
Tominaga, Kumi et al. “Protective Effects of Astaxanthin on Skin Deterioration.” Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition1 (2017): 33–39. PMC. Web. 3 Nov. 201
Fassett, Robert G., and Jeff S. Coombes. “Astaxanthin: A Potential Therapeutic Agent in Cardiovascular Disease.” Marine Drugs3 (2011): 447–465. PMC. Web. 4 Nov. 2017.
Grimmig, Bethany et al. “Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Astaxanthin: A Potential Therapeutic Role in Preserving Cognitive Function in Age and Neurodegeneration.” GeroScience1 (2017): 19–32. PMC. Web. 4 Nov. 2017.
Grimmig B, Kim SH, Nash K, Bickford PC, Douglas shytle R. Neuroprotective mechanisms of astaxanthin: a potential therapeutic role in preserving cognitive function in age and neurodegeneration. Geroscience. 2017;39(1):19-32.
Yook JS, Okamoto M, Rakwal R, et al. Astaxanthin supplementation enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory in mice. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2016;60(3):589-99. [Pub Med]
* Oxidative Stress: The process of oxidation happens as our bodies metabolize (or process) the oxygen that we breathe and our cells produce energy from it. This process also produces free radicals –which interact with the molecules within our cells resulting in damage (or stress) to nearby cells, MITOCHONDRIA, and DNA (our genes).
Free radicals are normal and necessary to some degree. In addition to causing some damage, they also stimulate repair. It is only when the amount of free radicals produced overwhelms the repair processes that it becomes an issue. That is what we call oxidative stress.
