Buying Guide for Astaxanthin Nutritional Supplements
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid pigment that can be found in marine algae, crustaceans, and other marine organisms. It is a vital component of the orange-red color of salmon, shrimp, crabs, lobster, and other aquatic red-coloured foods. In a nutshell, astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Astaxanthin Nutritional Supplements are carotenoids that are very popular with athletes and bodybuilders. Usually they are used as food additives to promote healthy skin and encourage growth of muscles. Some of them are also used to reduce the risk of certain diseases.
Benefits of Astaxanthin Nutritional Supplements
Promote Healthy Skin Aging
Did you know 90% of visible skin damage can be attributed to sun exposure? You can thank those free radicals for that. Sun exposure increases free radical production, and, board-certified dermatologist Kiera Barr, M.D., explains, "Free radicals set off a chain of events in your body that begin to cause visible damage, including the breakdown of your collagen and elastin, which makes your skin wrinkle, sag, and appear thinner." Antioxidants though, especially astaxanthin, can combat all that free-radical skin stress.
Supports Cardiovascular Health
Everything from some cancers to poor digestion has been linked to oxidative stress. So, it's no wonder, as a potent antioxidant, that astaxanthin has far-reaching benefits. Its free-radical-fighting properties have been indicated in promoting cardiovascular, cognitive, and vision health.* When it comes to heart health, astaxanthin can help support good HDL (the good cholesterol) levels, maintain healthy triglyceride and LDL levels (the bad cholesterol), and support healthy blood pressure.
Good for Brain Health
In addition, astaxanthin may help maintain cognitive health.* This is because it can cross the blood-brain barrier, providing powerful antioxidant support to the brain.* Studies have shown that astaxanthin can enhance attention, memory, and information processing in older adults.
It can Help Tired Eyes
You probably remember your mom telling you to eat your carrots for better vision. And it turns out, she was right. Carotenoids, and astaxanthin, in particular, are known for their role in eye health. Astaxanthin supplementation can help eyes recover from extended screen time and maintain healthy visual function.
Factors to Consider Before Buying of Astaxanthin Nutritional Supplements
Place of Origin
Pretty much all consumer supplemented Astaxanthin is derived from the same strain of algae, haematococcus pluvialis, however where they differ is in the growing conditions and where in the world it’s grown. There are about 10 major manufacturers of astaxanthin around the world that grow in 3 different ways, outdoors in ponds, outdoors in tubes and indoors in tubes. Effectively all producing a very similar product.
Form
The majority of Astaxanthin you’ll find will be in small, easy to swallow softgel capsules. When astaxanthin is extracted, it comes out as an oily resin which is adequately contained in a softgel. As astaxanthin binds to fat for absorption, make sure the astaxanthin you’re buying contains some kind of carrier oil such as olive oil or coconut oil.
Dosage
Unlike other supplements like magnesium for example, the dosage readings of astaxanthin a pretty standard and easy to understand. Most labels will show between 4-12mg of Astaxanthin per softgel. Astaxanthin potency shouldn’t vary much, all coming from the same strain of algae. Where some products do separate themselves from the rest is in their dosages per softgel and price.
Natural vs Synthetic
The chances of you finding synthetic astaxanthin in a health store are extremely low. However because synthetic astaxanthin does exist, we thought we better mention it. It is nowhere near as potent as natural astaxanthin and is primarily used in animal feed. This form is untested in humans and should be avoided.
Conclusion
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant that mainly occurs in seaweed. It can be found in multicolored tropical fish, crustaceans, lobsters, and crabs. It also occurs in plants, but much less frequently. It's also found in eggs, milk, and red meat. One of the most interesting things about Astaxanthin is that it's such a powerful antioxidant. It can be absorbed into the body after consuming foods that contain it, and it can be taken as a supplement.
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