For those of you that personally know me, you know that I am always reading, researching and trying out new foods, supplements, forms of exercise  etc. to improve my quality of life. In the last year I have come across a supplement that does just that.....it is called astaxanthin!!
Astaxanthin (pronounced asta-Zan-thin) is one of a group of natural pigments known as xanthophylls, a subcategory of the carotenoid family. Carotenoids are plant chemicals produced by plants. They use carotenoids for their natural antioxidant properties to protect themselves from harsh sun rays. Sea animals such as lobster, salmon and shrimp get their color from eating a diet of astaxanthin-rich algae and plankton.
This plant based algae supplement has almost too many benefits to list but here are just a few...

I love this one!!!
It improves skin quality!

It has been highly recommended by some doctors to reduce wrinkles, and age spots, improve smoothness, elasticity and improve moisture levels. Along with giving your skin a beautiful healthy glow!!!
Many people use this supplement so that they can spend more time out in the sun, because there is evidence that astaxanthin not only prevents UV sun damage from happening, but also helps reverse the outward signs of aging from the inside out!
Some cosmetic companies are using astaxanthin in their products to provide UV protection along with healing damaged skin.

It helps reduce inflammation!
This benefit really appealed to me because my husband battles with inflammation and joint issues.
After I read this statistic the other day I convinced my husband to start taking astaxanthin.
"The common remedy for inflammation includes, aspirin, acetaminophen and prescription Celebrex. The side effects from these have resulted in 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths per year in the United States. Complications from the use of these medications represent 43% of all drug related emergency visits."
Astaxanthin has been effective in clinical trials for inflammation. It will take longer to see the results, but has been proven to be a safe natural alternative to prescription drugs.

It increases strength and stamina!

Astaxanthin has the ability to increase stamina due to the beneficial effect it has on your mitochondria.(the part of the cell that generates 95 % of your energy.)
It is also effective in reducing lactic acid buildup during workouts.

It is great for eye health!
Recent studies have shown that it is the ultimate supplement for eye health. It is one of the few antioxidants that can penetrate the retinal barrier in your eyes. Using it has proven to have protective benefits against these vision related problems:
macular degeneration
cataracts
diabetic retinopathy
glaucoma and many more

Here are just a few other reported benefits:
Boosts the immune system
Protects against Free Radicals
Normalizes blood pressure
Gives you better resistance to colds
Helps prevent  the initiation of cancer

If you would like to check this out further, here is a link.
http://www.naturalnews.com/Files/Astaxanthin.pdf

I am stoked about this supplement!! It comes in different dosage amounts, I personally take 10mg. Check it out on your own, but if you would like smoother skin, reduce inflammation, increase your stamina, run get yourself some.


Until next time,
Jan