We hear you, what is this? Another non-pronounceable wonder ingredient promising to solve all our health and beauty problems? Trendy ingredients get thrown into the spotlight now and then, but astaxanthin is a pretty remarkable, antioxidant powerhouse and once you get the pronunciation right "asta-zan-thin" you'll be pleased you stuck with us as this is not a fad. Firstly, the scientific stuff. Astaxanthin is part of the carotenoid family, an organic pigment found in algae, bacteria and plants. Carotenoid is what gives fruits, flowers and vegetables their beautiful colours; astaxanthin is a brilliantly bright red colour and is the reason salmon, crab and lobster have pink flesh. Carotenoids act as a natural antioxidant for our bodies and astaxanthin has proven to be the world's most powerful antioxidant - it's 6000 times more effective at tackling free radicals than vitamin C! We've taken a look at its unusually, amazing properties and how it can help our bodies, skin and health. Antioxidant Benefits Astaxanthin can do what many other antioxidants cannot, it can control more than one free radical at a time. (Free radicals are charged and chemically reactive molecules that have lost an electron, which can lead to oxidative stress in the body, ageing skin and other unwelcome problems). Unlike other antioxidants such as vitamin C and E, astaxanthin separates itself and forms an electron cloud around the molecule it is protecting, so when free radicals come along looking to attack and steal electrons, they are absorbed by the cloud and neutralised. It's designed entirely to act in this way, and it's able to stretch itself across the entire cell membrane, protecting all over from the exterior, interior and lipid layer - providing all round, incredible protection. Joint Health & Exercise Astaxanthin has a fascinating ability to target inflammation in the body and reduce the effects which are caused by this such as pain, redness, swelling and loss of function. Due to this, it has shown to help with a range of problems which come from joint and tendon pain caused by age or exercise. Inflammation is our bodies way of fighting infection and astaxanthin gets to work without the side effects which can be caused by other drugs. Its prowess at attacking free radicals and targeting inflammation is not its only benefit for those who are injured through exercise, but it also has benefits on endurance and enables faster recovery too. It is believed that it is the great endurance properties of astaxanthin that pushes salmon to swim, often hundreds of miles, upstream against strong currents every year. They receive the sustenance they need to complete the journey from algae grown in fresh, open waters, which is a valuable and highly concentrated source of astaxanthin. Eye Health Astaxanthin can safely help with some eye related problems such as eye fatigue, soreness, dryness and irritation, glaucoma and loss of visual sharpness. It gets to work by effortlessly crossing into the tissue of the eye and reducing the number of free radicals which can easily access the eye area. You could think of it as a free radical scavenger - reducing the number which is present as well as reducing inflammation safely. Research shows astaxanthin is far more effective and outperformed all other carotenoid when it comes to protecting our eyes. You can find the support of other high potency nutrients targeting your eyes health in Terranova Bilberry Lutein & Astaxanthin Eye Complex. Skin Health Astaxanthin helps our skin recover from over exposure to the sun. Its potent antioxidant properties act as another level of sunscreen by helping reduce the damage caused by free radicals from the sun's rays and ultraviolet radiation. By doing this, it not only helps protect our skin from the damaging effects of the sun but also works towards the prevention of premature ageing in the skin, wrinkles, fine lines and loss of moisture. It gets to work from the inside out, and as with many other supplements, it is absorbed into the body at a cellular level so it can, therefore, reach layers of the skin which may not be accessible by skincare alone. However, if you are looking for extra protection from your skincare with added astaxanthin then looking no further than the Estelle & Thild Super Bioactive range. How can we obtain astaxanthin? You can add small amounts of astaxanthin through your diet, in foods such as salmon, however, is recommended to get your recommended dose through supplementation and to try and find it in its natural form, as our bodies can absorb this kind easier. You can reap its benefits with extra age-defying nutrients such as Green People Age Defy+ Astaxanthin which has the added benefits of iodine, wheat grass, spirulina and chlorella and provides 2mg of the super antioxidant. You can also find added astaxanthin in KIKI Health Krill Oil Capsules. For further protection against free radical effects, shop here for: Antioxidants
