Boost Your Immune System With Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin (pronounced as-tuh-zan’-thin) is a carotenoid. It belongs to a larger class of phytochemicals known as terpenes. It is classified as a xanthophyll, which means “yellow leaves”. Like many carotenoids, it is a colorful, fat/oil-soluble pigment. Astaxanthin can be found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, crustaceans, and the feathers of some birds.
Antioxidant astaxanthin is also a red pigment occurring naturally in a wide variety of living organisms. Although the word astaxanthin may not be commonly encountered in everyday speech, the pigment itself is found in many foods, and you are quite likely to be consuming it in your diet regularly.
The coloration of fish is often due to astaxanthin; the pink flesh of a healthy wild salmon is a conspicuous example. In commercial fish and crustacean farms, astaxanthin is commonly added to feeds in order to make up for the lack of a natural dietary source of the pigment. Not only does astaxanthin provide for pigmentation in these farmed animals, it also has been found to be essential for their proper growth and survival.
In nature, carotenoids are produced principally by plants and their microscopic relatives, the microalgae. Animals cannot synthesize carotenoids, thus ultimately they must obtain these pigments from the plants and algae that support their food chains. Commercial production of astaxanthin from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis is a growing business worldwide, primarily due to the rapid growth of this microorganism and its high astaxanthin content.
Other commercial ventures for natural astaxanthin production utilize fermentation of the pink yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous or extraction of the pigment from by products of crustacea such as the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). In addition to production from natural sources, astaxanthin may be chemically synthesized, and synthetic astaxanthin is the major form currently being used in fish feeds.
While carotenoid astaxanthin is a natural nutritional component, it can be found as a food supplement. The supplement is intended for human, animal, and aquaculture consumption. The commercial production of astaxanthin comes from both natural and synthetic sources. This carotenoid is a powerful antioxidant to support the immune system and fight free radical damage.
For those who do not think they consume enough in their diet, natural dietary supplements are manufactured which contain astaxanthin. Supplements of this kind can be found primarily in softgel form. Look for name brands like Solaray and Source Naturals to ensure you receive a quality product.
*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Astaxanthin is not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.
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Tags: Antarctic Krill, Carotenoid, Carotenoids, Commercial Fish, Commercial Ventures, Crustaceans, Dietary Source, Everyday Speech, Food Chains, Haematococcus Pluvialis, Living Organisms, Microorganism, Natural Sources, Phytochemicals, Pink Flesh, Salmon Trout, Superba, Terpenes, Xanthophyll, Yellow Leaves
