Astaxanthin, the carotenoid pigment found in microalgae that is consumed by sea creatures
including shrimps,
lobsters, salmon, shellfish, krill and more are known to contain powerful antioxidants that
can benefit
your health. How powerful, you might ask?
First, let's take a look at antioxidants and how it plays an important role in our bodies.
What
exactly are antioxidants? Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells in your body
from
free radical damage that can occur from exposure to certain chemicals, smoking, pollution,
radiation, and as a byproduct of normal metabolism (1).
According to Lauri Wright, Ph.D., R.D, L.D., assistant professor of nutrition at the
University
of South Florida, "Antioxidants are compounds found in food that stop or delay damage to the
cells.
They are naturally found in many foods, especially plants. They help ward off cell damage by
'cleaning
up' or removing waste products in our cells, called free radicals, before they can do harm.
Antioxidants
are released from the foods we eat through digestion and travel through the bloodstream and
into cells
where they do work on free radicals." (2)
Your next question will probably be, what exactly are free radicals?
To put it in simple terms, "free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage the cells
in your body.
They form when atoms or molecules gain or lose electrons. They often occur as the result of
normal metabolic
processes. For example, when your body uses oxygen, it creates free radicals as a by-product
and the
damage caused by those free radicals is called 'oxidative stress'." (3)
However, metabolism is not the only source as free radicals exist in various other forms of
pollutants
such as cigarette smoke, sunlight, radiation, drugs, perticides, chemicals, air pollutions,
fried food,
alcohol and more.
Free radicals damage cells over time, and are linked to the ageing process and a host of
chronic diseases
such as heart disease and some forms of cancer. Fortunately for us, antioxidants form food
or even supplements
can destroy these free radicals.
Food with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, C, beta carotene, lycopene and more
contain antioxidant
properties that are beneficial to fight against free radicals, but one particular
antioxidant is known to be
potent, and stands out from the rest. It's none other than Astaxanthin.
Why is Astaxanthin unique?
Studies have found Astaxanthin to be 6000x stronger than Vitamin C, 3000x stronger than
Resveratrol, 800x
stronger than CoQ10, 550x stronger than Vitamin E, 550x stronger than Green Tea, 40x
stronger than Beta-Carotene,
17x more potent than Grape Seed Extract, and 2.75x stronger than Lutein. (4)
What can Astaxanthin do for you?
One of the interesting benefits of Astaxanthin is skin protection, as Astaxanthin has shown
to improve the
appearance and quality of the skin, and can also improve the overall health of your skin.
Other benefits include eye health, specifically macular degeneration and cataracts,
improvements in the
immune system, cognitive function, cardiovascular health and fertility.
Now that you know, ensure that your diet is a balanced one and maximize the consumption of
your Astaxanthin-rich
OnZeneggs with healthy plant-based fats such as olive oil, avocados, coconut oil, chia seeds
or flaxseed oil so
that it can be efficiently transported to where your body needs it most.
To find out more about OnZen eggs, visit our website or follow us on Facebook.
References
- https://www.verywellfit.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-antioxidants-2507083
- https://www.self.com/story/what-antioxidants-are-and-actually-do
- https://www.verywellfit.com/free-radicals-2507225
- Nishida Y. et al, "Quenching Activities of Common Hydrophilic Antioxidants againts Singlet
Oxygen Using Chemiluminescence Detection System." Carotenoid Science 11:16-20 (2007)
