Bob Capelli and Gerald R. Cysewski, PhD
© Copyright 2011 Cyanotech Corporation
All rights reserved.
Some other nutraceuticals have begun to attain a certain level of fame for having beneficial properties for the brain. But due to Astaxanthin’s superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as a recent flurry of research in this area, indications are that it is superior to all other nutraceuticals for brain health. There is substantial evidence that most diseases associated with the brain are the result of oxidation and/or inflammation. Free radicals and singlet oxygen wreak havoc over time in your head, and the consequences, if left unchecked, manifest in such horrible diseases as:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Senility
- Injuries resulting from trauma
- Inflammatory injuries
- Other forms of age-related dementia
It is essential that people take antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier as they get older to protect the brain and central nervous system. Scientists believe that something may cause people’s internal antioxidant defense system to malfunction or wear out as we age. Our bodies may lose the ability to produce high levels of the antioxidants that are normally produced internally such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Also, our bodies are now subjected to unprecedented levels of oxidation caused by environmental factors such as pollution, containments, processed food and the high levels of stress in modern life. All of these lead to an assault on our vital organs as we age, particularly our brains and eyes.
To continue reading: Neuroprotective Effects of Astaxanthin