With the pandemic still in our midst, a healthy immune system is more important than ever. And one of the best ways you can protect yourself in these challenging times is with a powerful antioxidant.
But with dozens of different health products claiming to do exactly that, how can you be sure what actually works?
Simple: look for the science.
Astaxanthin is no ordinary health supplement. It’s a potent antioxidant with impressive scientific evidence for supporting the immune system.
What is Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a natural antioxidant with many important benefits for human health. Some researchers have even called it a “super antioxidant”!
Astaxanthin plays a major role in protecting the body from harmful free radicals which can damage immune cells.
Let’s explain what that means for your immune health.
How Astaxanthin protects cells from oxidative stress
Every day, we’re exposed to the harmful activities of free radicals: unstable molecules that “steal” electrons from other cells. This process is called ‘oxidative stress’, and can be severely damaging to healthy cells. Over time, oxidative stress makes us vulnerable to illness and disease.
Unfortunately, we’re faced with oxidative stress in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Free radicals are in the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and in UV rays from the sun. They also occur within our body as a natural byproduct of everyday processes.
This constant exposure to oxidative stress can increase the risk of chronic inflammation in the body, which in turn can severely compromise our immune system.
Many areas of the body are vulnerable to free radical damage, but the immune system is especially sensitive.
These nasty free radicals can overwhelm your body’s own levels of antioxidants. This is why it can be helpful to “top up” your antioxidant capacity from other sources, such as food or from dietary supplements.
How Astaxanthin supports optimal immune function
Astaxanthin is believed to be one of the most powerful natural antioxidants on the planet. There are now many studies to show that it can help reduce inflammation, stimulate the immune system, and provide antioxidant protection. It’s also reported to be 65 times more powerful than vitamin C and 50 times more powerful than vitamin E in protecting cell membranes.
Most importantly, Astaxanthin may be just what our bodies need during times of increased stress. Here’s why.
Supports immune cell function
Taking Astaxanthin every day may help to boost numbers of white blood cells, particularly B and T cells. It’s these cells that play a critical role in our immune system defences by fighting potentially harmful bacteria and viruses.
A clinical trial published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism found that astaxanthin not only reduced oxidative stress and inflammation but also enhanced the immune response. After taking a daily dose of Astaxanthin for four weeks, the young women in the study were found to have significantly higher numbers of B and T cells and increased activity of natural killer cells. The women also showed reduced levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation. These results suggested the astaxanthin strengthened their overall immune system.
A similar result was found in a study on mice. When mice were given daily doses of Astaxanthin every day for 30 days, they showed much higher numbers of lymphocytes, the white blood cells involved in fighting harmful pathogens.
May boost levels of immunoglobulins
Secretory IgA (SIgA) is a type of protein known as an antibody. This particular antibody is produced by cells lining the gut and the respiratory tract, and serves as the first line of defence in protecting the body from harmful bacteria and viruses.
When levels of sIgA are low, we are more susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections due to reduced protection.
A study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
found that natural Astaxanthin could help to boost levels of sIgA in the body.
After taking Astaxanthin for 90 days, a group of young male soccer players all showed higher levels of sIgA. These antibodies are particularly important for maintaining the integrity of the immune system, especially in people who were under increased oxidative stress and inflammation.
May help reduce inflammation
When our body is faced with a threat such as an infection, it steps up its normal immune response to fight off the invading pathogens. However, if this continues over a long period of time, chronic inflammation may result.
Although acute inflammation is a vital part of healing, chronic inflammation can lead to serious health issues and compromised immune function.
But that’s where Astaxanthin may be able to help. Recent studies show that natural Astaxanthin can help to keep the inflammatory response within normal levels. One study even suggested that Astaxanthin may play a pivotal role in reducing the inflammation that occurs during the immune response to viruses such as COVID-19, which could help with recovery.
Support natural defences with AstaSupreme
A healthy immune response begins with supporting your immune cells. That’s why AstaSupreme has combined both Astaxanthin and Vitamin D to help fight free radical damage and support natural immune function. The ultimate antioxidant support for challenging times!
