Astaxanthin - King of Carotenoids 👑
What is Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a special substance that belongs to the carotenoids. Carotenoids are important pigments that give nature its beautiful yellow, orange and red colors. The red-colored Astaxanthin is also considered the "king" of this group of natural pigments, partly because of its powerful antioxidant properties. You can find carotenoids in certain types of algae, aquatic animals, vegetables and fruits, but also in other places in nature.
A striking example of this is the colorful flamingo, which gets a beautiful pink color thanks to Astaxanthin. The flamingo gets it from crustaceans, which in turn get it from algae.🦩
Astaxanthin, as an antioxidant, has the important function of protecting the body against oxidative damage. Oxidative damage can be the precursor to serious diseases, which is why antioxidants are very important.
Not sure what antioxidants are yet? What do you need them for? And how do you get them in enough? Read THIS blog first.
In a nutshell: Antioxidants fight against free radicals. These aggressive molecules can be rendered harmless to a certain extent by the body's own substances. Yet they can also cause damage in our body when they are present in abundance. We are exposed to free radicals on a daily basis, through factors such as environmental pollution, unhealthy diet and stress, but also through our own metabolism.
That is why it is important to get enough antioxidants every day. Fortunately, you can get these essential nutrients from various sources, such as fresh (brightly colored) fruits and vegetables, but also from natural supplements. And when it comes to supplements, there's one that really stands out: Astaxanthin. That has many reasons. These are the most important:
Why has Astaxanthin gained the status of 'King of the Carotenoids'?
- Unique structure, both lipophilic and hydrophilic properties: this allows Astaxanthin to provide protection against oxidative damage both on the inside and outside of the cell membrane.
- No pro-oxidative effects: Unlike some other antioxidants, Astaxanthin cannot be converted into a pro-oxidant. A pro-oxidant can have the opposite effect of an antioxidant. Which can cause damage to your tissues and cells.
- High antioxidant activity: up to 100 times more powerful than vitamin E.
In addition to these antioxidant properties, there are several other potential health benefits of Astaxanthin. Although there is no hard evidence yet, there are indications that Astaxanthin has an anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing effect, offers protection against UV radiation and skin aging and contributes to muscle recovery.
Disclaimer: These claims/statements have not been evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
For example, this table is a brief summary of human intervention studies on skin and Astaxanthin. The arrows indicate whether something ↑ increased or ↓ decreased.
Here are some more snippets of studies related to muscle recovery, inflammation and UV protection. Although this does not give a complete picture of the studies, it does show that Astaxanthin has a lot of potential as a dietary supplement.
In case you are also so impressed by this powerful and natural antioxidant. Then you can order it HERE and discover for yourself how this unique antioxidant can contribute to your health!
