Astaxanthin – Highly beneficial antioxidant

By | October 4, 2009

One of the most powerful antioxidants known in science is astaxanthin. Belonging in the same group of carotenoids as vitamin A, astaxanthin is a natural organic pigment which is found in certain algae and seafood like shrimp, yeast, and krill. Astaxanthin appears as a bright reddish coloring in many birds and undersea creatures, so much so that it is considered as a food coloring by the animal feed industry.

While not as well known in nutritional circles, astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant. Some sources claim it to be the most powerful antioxidant in nature, exceeding all the other antioxidants known. After hearing about it, I had to try it out – And after nearly 2 months of 8mg a day, I’m pleasantly surprised by its subtle, yet sustained effect.

astaxanthin-bioastinThe main thing I notice is it helps my eyes to last longer, as I spend a lot of time in front of the computer, and previously my eyes would grow tired after a few hours, but astaxanthin seems to help my eyes to stay up longer. It works better than bilberry, which I’ve tried before.

Aside from that, astaxanthin seems to help with my exercise. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of hiking in the woods. Even after a recent (tough) 5 hour hike with some friends, covering perhaps 6 miles, I don’t feel as ragged as I was expecting to.

Previously I did talk about OPC Factor as a powerful antioxidant, but astaxanthin could be an even more powerful addition on the antioxidant block, said to be hundreds of times more powerful than vitamin E! Antioxidants impede cellular degeneration caused by metabolism, stress, chemicals, and other pollutants in our food and water. Believe me, if you work out or exercise your need for antioxidants increases exponentially; taking antioxidants becomes not an option, it becomes a priority.

astaxanthin

Some of the ascribed benefits of astaxanthin might sound a little too “miraculous” for what is basically a natural dye obtained from micro algae, but here you go:

  • Protect skin cells from harmful UV rays
  • Strengthen the immune system
  • Inhibit cancer cells; strong anti cancer properties
  • Protect against cataracts
  • Reduce inflammation and help in muscle tear recovery

The typical dosage for astaxanthin is 4-12 mg a day. For astaxanthin to work properly, you need to take it with some food with some fat content. Like vitamin A, astaxanthin is fat soluble, and is absorbed best with some fat/oil in food.

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