Benefits Of Natural Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid, an organic pigment present in plants, bacteria and algae. Animals typically do not hold such pigments. However, several fish, birds and insects hold colors because of the astaxanthin they consume from plants. Natural astaxanthin is also sold as a health supplement, and manufacturers claim that this product offers several health benefits. You should, however, speak with a medical professional prior to consuming an astaxanthin supplement.

Cataract and Cardiac Protection

Consuming a natural astaxanthin supplement may help you protect your body against cataract formation. A study published in the March 2009 "Chemical Research in Toxicology" found that natural astaxanthin helped protect rats from chemically induced cataract formation. In addition, astaxanthin shows effectiveness protecting the heart muscle. Specifically, astaxanthin increases blood flow to your heart and reduces both inflammation and oxidative stress. A study published in the July 2009 "Future Cardiology" confirmed astaxanthin's cardioprotective properties.

Sports Performance

According to the book " Natural Astaxanthin: King of the Carotenoids," athletes who consume astaxanthin on a regular basis may experience improved recovery times. Specifically, astaxanthin results in an improved visual acuity and lower lactic acid levels in athletes. Lactic acid levels indicate how tired your muscles are. The higher the level of lactic acid in your body, the more fatigued your muscles. The combination of less muscle fatigue and an improved visual acuity from astaxanthin makes this supplement beneficial for athletes.

Other Claimed Benefits

According to the book "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," foods rich in astaxanthin can help prevent a vitamin A deficiency. Additionally, astaxanthin holds xanthophyll, an antioxidant that helps your body protect your cells. Further, these antioxidant properties support several important immune functions and can, therefore, benefit your overall health.

Non-Health Benefits

The Food and Drug Administration has approved this carotenoid as a color additive and food coloring in animal feeds. The European Commission, on the other hand, has approved astaxanthin as a food dye in manufactured food products for human consumption. In other words, while both the FDA and the EC recognize astaxanthin as generally safe for human consumption, only the EC allows manufacturers to use astaxanthin in manufactured food products. The FDA does, however, allow manufacturers to sell astaxanthin as an unregulated health supplement. You should speak with a medical professional prior to consuming any astaxanthin supplement.