Sunday, December 2, 2012

Looking for the Perfect Nutrient? We May Have Found It

By Colin Schwandefeldt


It does not take long to hear something new about the damage of free radicals and why antioxidants are so important. Some vitamins give antioxidant protection. Vitamins C, E, and A are merely a few to reference. So do the compounds beta carotene and lycopene. The latest discovery is more powerful than many of the previously known ones combined. There are a wide variety of reasons why Astaxanthin is considered the leader of antioxidants.

Astaxanthin is a member of the carotenoid family. This nutrient accounts for the pink color in flamingos. It is made by a few species of micro-algae. The nutrient can be found in creatures that feed on the algae. Some get it from small seafood they eat. It is challenging for an individual to eat enough fish and algae to get any of the numerous health improvements.

The winner is.....Astaxanthin. It is sixty five times stronger than vitamin C, fifty four times stronger than beta carotene, and fourteen times better than vitamin E in scavenging free radicals from the body's cells. It combats oxidation damage. In limiting oxidative damage it is 550 times more potent than Vitamin E and 11 x more potent than beta carotene.

More does not mean better with some antioxidants - they can do more harm at higher doses. However, astaxanthin does not do this.

It is fat soluble, therefore it needs to be taken with food containing fat. In crossing the blood barrier for eyes and the brain, there are many benefits. As a result, it can be used to help mental acuity and vision. It may slow down or prevent macular degeneration, the most common reason behind blindness.

Protection from sun burn is another benefit of astaxanthin. It absorbs the vast majority of UVB rays that strike your skin and helps to counteract destruction of the DNA that could lead to the formation of melanoma. Don't just rely on sunscreen. You need to be thinking of how to further enable the body to mop up free radicals from sun damage.

Not all astaxanthin is identical. It is usually best to get the natural form whenever possible. Synthetic astaxanthin can contain petrochemicals. The antioxidant benefit is much less with the one based in petrochemicals. Many skin cancers build up over time from sun damage. Therefore, if you start protecting yourself early, it may pay off.

This antioxidant does not leave the body right away. This means that one does not have to take it as a dietary supplement every day. Most people will take astaxanthin each day with a principle meal. Remember, it is better absorbed with food that contains fat.

The benefits of astaxanthin are so far reaching that many in the professional medical community are referring to it as one of the best supplements that people should be taking. There is also one other powerful use that should be mentioned -- anti-inflammatory remedy. This is one nutrient that gives you biggest bargain.

There are many more things to discover about this exciting antioxidant. Ask your doctor about this antioxidant.




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