Ask Jenn!

What is Astaxanthin, Anyway?

I have been receiving a lot of questions about astaxanthin lately. Astaxanthin is found in Nutri-Health®’s AstaCor™ Heart Health* Formula. But, what is astaxanthin? Why do we need it? Does it really exist? I know it’s hard to believe something so good is true, but it really does exist!

Astaxanthin in nature
here are many uses for astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is found as a natural red food colorant in feed supplements and in algae sources. Lobsters, shrimp, crabs and salmon all get naturally colored through consuming astaxanthin. It also helps protect them from ultraviolet rays.^1,2 Astaxanthin shows up in other animals like flamingos who eat these fish but are unable to make use of the astaxanthin in them. Flamingos process astaxanthin out into their feathers, making them pink.

Astaxanthin as an antioxidant
Astaxanthin is a powerful, free-radical-scavenging antioxidant that helps fight free radical damage. It has 10 times the antioxidant capacity of beta-carotene and 100 times the antioxidant capacity of Vitamin E.³ As a result of its potent antioxidant activity, astaxanthin may be beneficial for cardiovascular, immune, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Let me know if you have any other questions on Nutri Health products or ingredients. Remember, nothing is too wacky – from flamingos to algae, we cover it all!

¹ http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/astaxanthin.php
² http://www.benbest.com/nutrceut/phytochemicals.html#carotenoids
³ http://www.beta-glucan-info.com/astaxanthin-questions-answers.htm