When addressing various skin conditions, including age spots, wrinkles, dry skin, sun damage, psoriasis, and other commonly experienced visible signs of imbalanced health, both conventional allopathic doctors and natural or alternative doctors tend to overlook the importance of mitochondria in relation to skin health.
Mitochondria are intracellular powerhouses that produce up to 95% of your body’s energy. They are particularly abundant in muscle tissue, which has one of the greatest demands for quick bursts of energy.
One “side effect” to energy production is production of free radicals, which are highly reactive oxygen molecules that create damage within cells and lead to aging processes and sore muscles after exercise.
This is why antioxidants found in various foods have been promoted to counteract “oxidation” caused by free radical damage. But which antioxidants are most effective at scavenging these free radicals?
Scientists and leading-edge health practitioners and raw foods experts have been astounded by recent discoveries in the properties of astaxanthin, an antioxidant found in marine algae, wild salmon, and krill oil. This amazing superfood antioxidant is 6000 times more powerful than vitamin C and 800 times better than CoQ10 at quenching “singlet oxygen” species which wreak havok inside the body.
Additionally, astaxanthin has been found to cross the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier, meaning that it has the power to protect your brain and your eyes from free radical damage. Beta-carotene does not have this property!
If you are interested in giving astaxanthin a try for anti-aging purposes, or to get rid of sun damage, wrinkles, liver spots, or other skin conditions (or to protect your eyes, brain, or increase your athletic endurance), we recommend using a form of astaxanthin derived from microalgae (less concern with toxins, heavy metals, and nuclear radiation than from fish). It is also wise to look for astaxanthin that is combined with an essential fatty acid and an oil such as rosemary oil to ensure proper uptake of the nutrient as well as product stability.
The best astaxanthin supplement we have found is made by Pure Encapsulations, and we offer it here at Holistic Chinese Herbs for just $55.99 for a 4-month supply.
Buy Astaxanthin 120 gels $55.99
Ingredients per softgel:
astaxanthin (naturally derived from Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae) 4 mg.
lutein (naturally occurring) 40 mcg.
vitamin A (as beta carotene) (naturally occurring) 65 i.u.
vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) 50 i.u.
other ingredients: rosemary liquid extract, high oleic safflower oil, gelatin
Suggested use:
1-3 capsules per day, with meals.
For those of you who require a more budget-friendly form of sun protection for your skin, we also like the product BioAstin, which is made by Nutrex Hawaii. This brand does not have as much vitamin E, and it uses safflower oil and glycerin as adjuvents instead of rosemary oil and olive oil, which is why the price is much cheaper.
Buy BioAstin 4mg 60 gels $21.98
INGREDIENTS:
SERVING SIZE: 1 Softgel Capsules
SERVINGS PER CONTAINER: 60
AMOUNT PER SERVING:
Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) 65 IU
Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) 10 IU
Natural Astaxanthin 4 mg
Lutein 40 mcg
Safflower oil, Gelatin, glycerin, purified water.
Free of yeast, corn, wheat or soy.
Non-GMO and BSE free.
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