Astaxanthin is one of the most potent and powerful antioxidants available to us and may have significant health benefits. It is a member of the carotenoid family and is a deep red colored phytonutrient synthesized by microalgae. Some of the benefits of this antioxidant include protection against age related macular degeneration, inflammatory conditions, UV protection, wrinkle prevention, and better brain health. If one’s diet is full of vegetables they are probably getting the necessary carotenoids in sufficient amounts, astaxanthin on the other hand, can be more difficult to get in therapeutic amounts. Small amounts of astaxanthin are found naturally in salmon, shrimp, lobster, and crab. But to reap the therapeutic benefits it needs to be supplemented. One particularly good source to get it from would be Krill Oil or a high quality Fish Oil supplement. Almost every health professional will say that we all need to take a fish oil supplement. There is a debate between krill oil and fish oil and currently the research heavily backs fish oil. But there are some things to consider first. A high quality fish oil supplement also has a lot of the above benefits but what makes krill oil stand out is the antioxidant content and that the omega 3’s are in the form of phospholipids which may increase the absorption rate into the important tissues that need it the most. With that said there are, in fact, some high quality fish oil supplements with astaxanthin. While the marketing tactics of krill oil are compelling, and there may be some truth to it, based on the scientific research I would recommend looking for a high quality fish oil with astaxanthin or you can find a separate astaxanthin supplement to reap the benefits of this powerful antioxidant.
