Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin? We never heard of it either….but there is an article in InStyle this month about it so we did some research and learned a few things. For one, Astaxanthin has been shown in the lab to be the strongest natural antioxidant known. It has been measured to be many times more potent in some ways than vitamin E or vitamin C, beta-carotene, lutein or pycnogenol. Astaxanthin has shown to be a very powerful weapon in the battle against inflammation and as such is helping to prevent ailments such as atherosclerosis, strokes, ulcers, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, cancer, diabetes and more. Astaxanthin has also been shown to be a very effective remedy for all types of joint pain, including tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and joint soreness after strenuous exercise. And last but not least one of the most frequently-reported benefits of astaxanthin is an improvement in skin quality. There is evidence that this antioxidant not only prevents UV sun damage from occurring, but may actually help to reverse external signs of aging from the inside out.  What exactly is Astaxanthin? It is a strong antioxident found in algae. It can be taken as a supplement (Dr. Perricone uses it in his supplement line) and it can now be found in skin care products as well. If you do decide to take the supplement…check with your doctor that it will not interfere with any current medications you might be taking.