Astaxanthin for eyes may just be the next great supplement to work into your healthy lifestyle. If you’re a fan of seafood, you may be surprised just how much salmon, shrimp, and crawfish may be good for you! It turns out that certain types of seafood contain an antioxidant-packed carotenoid called astaxanthin that offers potential benefits for eye health and much more. Learn more in this blog post!
Carotenoids are a class of naturally occurring pigments synthesized by plants, algae and bacteria, many of which serve as antioxidants in our daily diets. Different types of carotenoids are found in fruits and vegetables, such as beta-carotene, which is found in carrots. They’re also found in animals that eat foods containing carotenoids.
What is Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a dark red carotenoid pigment with antioxidant benefits. It’s found in marine organisms such as microalgae, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crawfish, and other crustaceans. Specifically, astaxanthin is responsible for giving those animals, and even birds like flamingos, their unique pinkish-red color. And astaxanthin – concentrated in the muscles and skin of certain aquatic creatures – is also what helps gives salmon the strength and endurance to swim upstream. Who doesn’t want that kind of power in their lives? And what does that have to do with eye health?
The scope of astaxanthin is vast. It may contribute to your health in a many different ways, including supporting healthy muscles, supporting healthy looking skin, and promoting healthy vision. A growing body of research suggests that astaxanthin may have potential benefits specific to healthy vision due to its high quantity of antioxidants, which destroy harmful free radicals caused by oxidative stress, helping to prevent damage to cells and DNA that could lead to age-related diseases.
Studying Astaxanthin for Eyes
Researchers and scientists have been studying the effects of antioxidants such as astaxanthin for years. Clinical research is being done to see if astaxanthin supplementation helps to protect your eyes from age-related problems such macular degeneration, cataracts, and even blindness. Preliminary research suggests the possibility of a correlation; however, more research is needed.
Various studies have determined that astaxanthin – or more specifically, the carotenoid pigment that makes up astaxanthin – has the ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier with more efficiency and effectiveness than other carotenoids. It may be the most valuable nutrient when it comes to protecting eye health – even more than those carrots your mom tried to talk you into eating.
According to the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, astaxanthin has 10 times more antioxidant power and UV-light protective properties than other carotenoids such as beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, and canthaxantin – truly living up to its nickname, the king of all carotenoids, when it comes to promoting optimal health. What a great reason to try astaxanthin for eyes!
Supplementing Astaxanthin for Eyes
Admittedly, it can be difficult to work shrimp or salmon into your diet every day. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture only recommends eating two servings of seafood per week. That’s where dietary supplements come in handy.
There are a variety of astaxanthin supplements available from Natural Healthy Concepts, including from such trusted brands as NOW Foods and Solaray, that allow you to easily support and promote eye health without growing bored of seafood. These supplements come in a variety of forms – from softgels to capsules to liquid drops.
Are you supplementing your diet and healthy lifestyle with astaxanthin for eyes? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
