What You Need to Know About Topical Astaxanthin
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What is astaxanthin?
Are you unsettled by the side effects of aging on your body and looking for a powerful natural supplement to slow the process? If so, you're not alone. No one wants to get older! In this article, we explore the effects of astaxanthin, a naturally occurring anti-aging compound that's backed by extensive research in over 1,000 scientific studies.
Astaxanthin—pronounced as-ta-zan-thin—is a natural reddish pigment that's part of the carotenoid family of compounds. Sometimes called the "king of carotenoids," it's one of nature's most powerful antioxidants and is estimated to be 50 times stronger than beta-carotene (1).
Astaxanthin is produced by oceanic microalgae such as Haematococcus pluvialis in response to stress conditions (think harsh sunlight) as a protective effect. Marine animals like krill, salmon, shellfish, crab, and shrimp feed on algae which leads to the absorption of astaxanthin that accumulates in their tissue—it's how they obtain their pinky-red color!
Now, experts have been able to isolate astaxanthin from H. pluvialis to offer a high concentration of this dietary supplement that can have beneficial effects for promoting joint, skin, eye, brain, heart, and muscle health.
How Astaxanthin Works
Astaxanthin's powerful health benefits are due to its antioxidant properties that aid your body's endurance and longevity.
In this modern world, your body is constantly bombarded with free radicals and toxins that lead to oxidative cell damage, chronic inflammation, signs of premature aging, and even chronic disease. Astaxanthin can cause significant improvements in these areas by donating electrons to unstable free radicals, neutralizing them, and protecting your cells from oxidative stress. Recent studies have shown that daily dietary supplements of astaxanthin reduce markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the body (2).
Astaxanthin is unlike any other antioxidant on the market due to its unique lipophilic and hydrophilic structure. This means it's soluble in both water and fat, allowing it to become part of the cell membrane and offer protective effects for cells from the inside and outside. This extra antioxidant activity has a direct correlation to the overall health of your immune system! Fat-soluble astaxanthin also passes through the blood-brain barrier easily where it plays an important role in defending your delicate brain structures and cognitive function.
Health Benefits of Astaxanthin
Let's explore the proven benefits of this natural anti-aging supplement on your biological activity. Read more to discover all the positive effects of astaxanthin and the crucial role this supplement can play in human health.
Promotes Glowing Skin
Loading up on antioxidants like astaxanthin may help you feel more confident as you age with improvements to your appearance. Used topically and internally, astaxanthin promotes your skin health by protecting it from the effects of aging, environmental pollution, free radicals, and UV damage. Give your skin that healthy glow with a daily dose of these nutrients and the antioxidant properties they possess.
A recent study from 2018 found that taking 4 mg of astaxanthin daily protected the skin from damage and reduced moisture loss from sun exposure (3). Getting high levels of astaxanthin can help eliminate any toxicity that harms your skin and offer a significant difference for healthy aging.
Other clinical studies have found using topical astaxanthin in conjunction with taking a 6 mg daily supplement results in (4):
- Fewer crow's feet wrinkles
- Minimized age spots on the cheeks
- Better skin elasticity and skin texture
- Improved moisture levels and skin condition
Enhances Eye Health
The retina of the human eye is packed with antioxidant carotenoids that absorb harsh sunlight, fluorescent lighting, and blue light from screens – protecting your eyes against these daily risk factors or chronic stress conditions. Improve your eyes' endurance with the use of astaxanthin and the antioxidant properties these nutrients offer.
By reducing oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, consuming extra carotenoids (like astaxanthin) may support the health of the eyes and preserve your eyesight as you age (5).
Supports Cardiovascular Health
Astaxanthin is a potent heart-protective antioxidant that can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. It quenches oxidative stress and inflammation and inhibits the oxidation of "bad" LDL cholesterol. These health concerns can have adverse effects on your blood vessels or cause hardening of the arteries (6).
Adding astaxanthin to your daily routine can help to lower levels of dangerous LDL cholesterol in your blood while improving levels of the "healthy" HDL cholesterol (7). Improve your blood pressure before and during the aging process so you can enjoy stronger heart health through the years.
Boosts Physical Performance
The powerful antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties of astaxanthin make it invaluable for athletes and people engaging in intense exercise. It allows you to get the most out of your workout by supporting joint mobility and muscle recovery. Plus, taking astaxanthin regularly may help you stay active as you get older.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine looked at the impact of consuming a 4 mg dose of astaxanthin daily on competitive cyclists. Promisingly, there was an overall improvement in performance during a 20-km time trial in those who consumed the astaxanthin (8). Another study on soccer players discovered that supplementing with astaxanthin sources improved their antioxidant reserves and sped up recovery by reducing exercise-induced oxidative damage (9).
Make Astaxanthin Part of Your Daily Diet
Okay, you knew it was coming... time for a shameless plug. Do you think the benefits of adding astaxanthin to your daily diet could help your overall health and fatigue levels? Create a personalized dietary supplement pack that includes astaxanthin and any other vitamins, minerals, or supplements you think could help. Start by adding astaxanthin to your kit here!
Astaxanthin
Resources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25897101/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20205737/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29941810/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22428137/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4997915/
- http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11521685/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4771988/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21984399/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22828460/
How It Works
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STEP 1
Take the assessment! Tell us a little about yourself, your lifestyle and your health goals.
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STEP 2
Select a recommended pack or customize your own assortment of supplements that meet your health goals.
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STEP 3
We will send you an awesome dispenser box containing 30 personalized daily vitamin packs every month
