Astaxanthin Benefits - Side Effects | What is Astaxanthin

What is Astaxanthin ?


Astaxanthin is a pigment, which means it is a substance that provides coloring. It occurs naturally in certain plants and other organisms, but not in animals. Many orange, yellow and red plants, fruits, and flowers derive their color from astaxanthin. Certain birds, insects and fish that eat a diet rich in plants colored by astaxanthin also achieve their colors as a result of this pigment. Astaxanthin is found in many foods within the human diet, and has many purported health benefits.
Meanwhile, on the Dr.Oz, Astaxanthin is described as an antioxidant found in salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish and crustaceans. The supplement as “poised to become the next Vitamin D, and by that I mean Vitamin D is something that we all recognize, we just don’t have enough of.” Dr. Joe Mercola went on to call astaxanthin ” as one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatory that we know of,” suggesting that it could help fight arthritis, cardio-vascular diseases, cancer and cataracts, as well as being a performance-enhancing substance for use by athletes.


What are the Benefits of Astaxanthin ?

• Anti-inflammatory properties have proven useful in treating a variety of ailments, from cataracts to cardiovascular disease.
• Astaxanthin has proven promising in the field of cancer research.
• May enhance athletic performance.
• Research demonstrates that astaxanthin is ten times stronger in scavenging free radicals than other carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, and one-hundred times stronger than alpha-tocopherol.

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  Astaxanthin has also been shown to prevent low-density lipoprotein oxidation in human blood and enhance the immune system in animal studies

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• What are the Side Effects of Astaxanthin?

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• • Astaxanthin side effects include a drop in blood pressure, hormonal changes, decreased libido and increased skin pigmentation.
  • Individuals with immune disorders, asthma, osteoporosis or parathyroid disorders should avoid use of this product.
  • Women who are either pregnant or lactating should consult with their doctors regarding the safety before deciding whether or not to take Astaxanthin as a nutritional supplement.