What Is Astaxanthin?
It might’ve taken you a couple of tries to say “astaxanthin,” but its functions aren’t as complicated as the word itself is to say. Astaxanthin is a reddish pigment that belongs to a group of chemicals called carotenoids. It occurs naturally in certain algae and causes the pink or red color in salmon, trout, lobster, shrimp and other seafood.
Astaxanthin is a nutrient with antioxidant capacity 6,000 times stronger than vitamin C, 3,000 times stronger than resveratol, 800 times stronger than CoQ10, 560 times stronger than green tea catechins and 110 times stronger than vitamin E. It is a fat-soluble antioxidant able to access and protect cell membranes, and it preferentially deposits in mitochondrial membranes where free-radical byproducts are first formed.
Astaxanthin is a pure antioxidant that is able to span the whole length of the cell membrane, able to cross the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.
Astaxanthin For Skin Health
Let’s start by breaking down the benefits that antioxidants can have on your skin! Skin is our largest organ and it has a lot of jobs, one being protecting us from environmental factors such as oxidants. If we experience an increased amount of oxidants exceeding the capacity of our antioxidant defense system, this causes oxidative stress. And this is where antioxidants come in.
Astaxanthin is a beauty-from-within nutrient that can access all skin layers to support skin hydration, elasticity and smoothness. It also promotes a healthy collagen network and supports skin cell fibroblasts in charge of generating new collagen.
Astaxanthin is a super-antioxidant that has been shown through clinical studies to support healthy skin in women and men, with a combination of both oral supplementation and topical application. These studies only support astaxanthin specifically derived from H. pluvialis, but look no further: You — and your skin — are covered. Not only do we know of a great dietary supplement containing this unique type of astaxanthin, but there are two brand-new skincare products that include it as well!
Astaxanthin is known to be a powerful antioxidant with an affinity for tissues that have heightened metabolic demand, such as cardiac muscle, capillary beds within organs and skeletal muscles requiring sufficient oxygen and energy for their proper performance. *
A significant number of human clinical studies demonstrate the efficacy of astaxanthin on cardiovascular health and performance. Research reveals an impressive link between natural astaxanthin from algae and normal healthy levels of HDL, a form of lipid respected for its cardio-protective benefits. In addition, astaxanthin supports normal vascular tone and performance, making astaxanthin a critical addition for those looking to maintain normal blood pressure as well as those looking to promote physical endurance. *
With exercise comes the creation of singlet oxygen free radicals. These radicals are particularly problematic in aging and cellular endurance. With age comes a slowing down of our ability to quench these free radicals as fast as they are produced. Athletes and those who exercise regularly, regardless of age, create these free radicals at a significant rate. Individuals in both groups may benefit from a nutritional intervention of AstaReal astaxanthin to meet their metabolic demands. Using a powerful antioxidant like astaxanthin helps us maintain balance and supports healthy energy, stamina and cardiovascular health.*
In addition to its cardiovascular, metabolic and physical fitness benefits, AstaReal astaxanthin supports healthy visual activity. Loss of visual accommodation, the ability to focus on small or near objects, is not limited to an aging population. In fact, with digital devices becoming more and more prominent in our lives, it’s becoming more difficult to maintain our ability to properly accommodate. Over-stimulation of our eyes from the growing number of screen and digital interfaces can leave our eyes feeling tired. Such fatigue can impact both visual focus and cognitive attention. Astaxanthin, because it has a dual purpose of protecting the eyes from eye strain while promoting normal blood flow to retinal and surrounding tissue’ supports the eyes’ ability to read and use devices for longer periods of time with less eye fatigue. AstaReal® astaxanthin, because of its unique shape, additionally supports the body’s ability to quench free radicals and fight the effects of oxidative stress in the eye.*