What is astaxanthin and why is it beneficial?
Known as the “King of the Carotenoids”, astaxanthin is a fat-soluble powerful antioxidant that provides pigmentation to certain algae and animals. Astaxanthin can be found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, shellfish and the feathers of some birds. The richest source of astaxanthin is a microscopic green algae called Haematococcus pluviali. It has been shown that astaxanthin is capable of supporting the body’s natural antioxidant defense system by increasing the levels of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Many people are not aware of the antioxidant power of astaxanthin, which in some cases is many times stronger than other commonly known antioxidants such as vitamin E, beta-carotene and vitamin C.
