Astaxanthin is a vibrantly deep red carotenoid that is responsible for the color of sea animals having red or pink flesh, or outer shells. It is also a valuable dietary supplement that I take every day (12 mg).
Astaxanthin has been crowned “King of the Carotenoids” because of its superior benefits and actions in promoting health and protecting against cellular damage, especially in the brain, skin, and vascular system.
I love what astaxanthin can do to promote health (discussed below). So, I am angry that many of the astaxanthin products contain only trace levels of astaxanthin.
This discovery, conducted by Consumer Labs showed that 13 out of 22 products provided less than 1 mg of astaxanthin per serving, despite a label claim indicating 10 mg or more.
Not only did most of the astaxanthin analyzed contain less than 10% of the claimed amount, several contained NO DETECTABLE LEVELS!
And that really makes me even angrier.
The reality is that there are many fraudulent products of all kinds being sold online and it is not just astaxanthin and other dietary supplements.
However, there is one online shop where you will not find fraudulent products or reviews. iHerb.com. And that is why I am proud to serve as its Chief Scientific Advisor.
iHerb requires suppliers to provide certificates of analysis and iHerb house brands like California Gold Nutrition, Lake Avenue Nutrition, and others are part of a quality program called iTested.
The iTested program allows consumers to see the certificate of analysis of these products to give them confidence and assurance in the quality, potency, and purity. How is that for transparency?
That is what every company should be doing.
In Consumer Labs in their independent analysis of astaxanthin products gave California Gold Nutrition’s Astaxanthin (12 mg) the honor of not only being a “Top Pick” but also providing the best value. It was the lowest cost product providing the full 12 mg daily dosage at $0.36 per day.
High quality at the lowest cost is a great combination, right?
No matter what astaxanthin you buy, make sure it is produced from the H. pluvialis algae. It is the best source and significantly more beneficial than the synthetic form.
And regarding the health benefits of astaxanthin, there are now over 50 clinical and experimental studies that have shown astaxanthin to be helpful in the following conditions:
Brain Health. Helps protect against aging and helps improve mental function.
Cardiovascular Health. Protects vascular lining, promotes improved blood flow, and protects LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized (damaged).
Eye Health. Protects against eye fatigue, helps improve visual acuity and depth perception, and increases blood flow to eye tissues.
Sports Related Activities. Promotes muscle endurance and protects against muscle damage.
Diabetes, insulin-resistance, and the metabolic syndrome. Helps improve antioxidant status and protect against vascular damage.
Skin Health. Reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin elasticity, protects against sun damage, and prevents age spots and hyperpigmentation.
Immune health. Protects against damage to immune cells.
For more information on astaxanthin, please read my article on iHerb: The Unique Health Benefits of Astaxanthin I hope you find all of this information helpful.
Dr. Mike Murray
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