Astaxanthin’s antioxidant power
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid; it occurs naturally in some algae and specific seafood types such as lobster, salmon, trout and crabs. This carotenoid is what gives these foods their pinkish red colours. It is often referred to as ‘the king of carotenoids’ because it is one of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature. Astaxanthin has been linked to healthier skin, heart health and joint pain.
The power of antioxidants is measured in Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). Astaxanthin has an impressive ORAC score of 2.8 million, this is 40% more than the next best antioxidant – CoQ10 and 85% higher than curcumin – one of the best known antioxidants on Earth.
The body cannot produce astaxanthin on its own, so it must be consumed through diet or supplements.
Health Benefits:
Antioxidant properties
The antioxidant properties of astaxanthin are impressive, with 550 times more antioxidant effects than vitamin E and 6000 times stronger than vitamin C. These properties help to reverse the oxidation process, preventing oxidative stress from happening. Continuous oxidative stress can lead to a number of health risks, including heart disease and some cancers.
Heart health
There are a number of studies that suggest astaxanthin can play a role in keeping your heart healthy, reducing the risk of cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease.
One way in which it can help with heart health is it can curb bad cholesterol, research shows that astaxanthin helped reduce the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in obese and overweight people after twelve weeks of use. The antioxidant can also help regulate blood lipids by improving the levels of adiponectin and good cholesterol. Another way astaxanthin can promote a healthy heart is by enhancing blood flow and circulation. A study found that it can help improve the thickness and elasticity of the walls of arteries – which can prevent the risk of heart failure. Lastly, a study claims that astaxanthin can reduce blood oxidation and delay blood clotting.
Typical Uses:
Astaxanthin can be found many types of seafood, although only in small amounts which is why many choose to take dietary supplements instead. We suggest taking 1 capsule of our astaxanthin supplement daily with food, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21964877/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19892350/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11521685/