Sunday, March 7, 2010

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring caretonoid pigment present in the red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma and many other many aquatic plants. Astaxanthin is fat soluble natural caretonoid, used in Asian cooking and possesses potent antioxidant properties. Astaxanthin exhibits valuable free radical scavenging properties and keeps the body save from harmful oxidative damage of cell membranes, cells, and tissues. Astaxanthin is used for centuries because of its health promoting properties.

Astaxanthin is used as a food supplement and its potent antioxidant activity exhibit healthful effects on inflammatory, immune, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Some researchers suggest that Astaxanthin has an anti-cancerous effect. As an antioxidant, Astaxanthin offers its preventive effects on the body tissues from free radical damage and oxidative stress.  According to several scientific studies, Astaxanthin prevents the unstable molecules from damaging the body that make it effective treatment for age –related macular generation, glaucoma and decreases the incidence of macular degeneration. Astaxanthin also offer immune boosting effects and make the body save from incidence of infections and cancer.