Originally published October 19 2005
Food companies begin to include immune-boosting ingredient
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Astaxanthin, common in fish and shrimp, has been show to enhance immune functions and the central nervous system, and can be bought from food companies like Fit Ingredients in food bars, capsules and tablets.
Astaxanthin is an important naturally occurring molecule and the most abundant carotenoid in the marine world it can be found in many of our favourite seafood such as salmon, trout, seabream and shrimps.
Astaxanthin can not be synthesized by animals and must be provided in the diet.
Unlike ?-carotene, Astaxanthin has no pro-vitamin A activity.
It has a number of essential biological functions in aquatic animals such as protecting against oxidation process, protecting against UV light effects, immune response and pigmentation - It is responsible for the red/pink coloration of crustaceans and salmonoids.
But astaxanthin is not only a coloring agent, it is also a very potent anti-oxidant and has important applications in the Nutraceutical, Cosmetics, Food and Feed industries.
For more than ten years, astaxanthin's role in enhancing the immune system and preventing oxidative stress has been the subject of international research both in universities and commercial enterprises.
There are more than 300 publications and patents regarding astaxanthin.
Astaxanthin is a small Lipid soluble molecule that can cross the blood brain and retina barriers.
Natural astaxanthin is produced from Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae (the richest source of natural astaxanthin).
The company's patented and advanced biotechnology process employs a closed tubular system for cultivating enriched algae cells that allows the production of high astaxanthin concentration algae biomass and eliminates significant disadvantages of open pond algae systems such as problems associated with contaminations and salinity.
The Haematococcus microalgae is cultivated in ideal environmental conditions using the natural sun light as the energy source all year round.
# Dry biomass which contains 3.5-4.0% astaxanthin.
# 10% standardized Oleoresin (extracted by CO2 supercritical extraction) for softgels.
# 2.5% beadlets for tablets, capsules and food bars.
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