Astaxanthin Side Effects, Uses and Health Benefits
Astaxanthin is the algae that flamingos eat, which turns them pink. It's also the food of krill, a good source of omega-3. If you eat too much, it makes your stool turn orange, but that's completely safe. While there are no known toxic side effects from astaxanthin, there are some side effects.
Astaxanthin Health Benefits
Photo courtesy of Microsoft Clipart
Astaxanthin decreases blood pressure. For those with low blood pressure, this can be a problem. However, for the vast majority of Americans, it's really a good thing. The red coloring comes from carotenoids that give the astaxanthin its red color. One study showed that after just two weeks, blood pressure dropped approximately 10 percent. A second study showed the average drop was 17 percent after seven weeks.
Due to the red coloring, you might also see an increase in skin pigmentation from taking astaxathin. Increase in pigmentation gives you protection from damage caused by the sun's rays. While it won't protect you completely against sunburn, it does increase your body's ability to withstand exposure to UV rays by a minimum of 20 percent up to 50 percent. If you want a lily-white look, don't use astaxanthin.
Increases Hair Growth, Decreases Libido
Other side effects may include increased hair growth, changes in your hormonal balance and lower levels of blood calcium. Before you purchase a gallon of astaxanthin to stop signs of male pattern balding, you might want to consider a second side effect, a decreased libido. While there are limited studies on why astaxanthin increases hair growth, the change in male pattern balding may occur due to the astaxanthin blocking the hormone dihydrotestosterone. This hormone shrinks the hair root and eventually causes enough deterioration to make the hair fall out. While you may have a full head of hair that drives the women wild, you simply won't be interested. To make matters worse, astaxanthin can increase the breast size in men. Life is cruel.
Astaxanthin Side Effects on Mother and Baby
As with any supplement or medication, pregnant women should approach the use of astaxanthin with great caution. Since astaxanthin affects the hormones, it may be unsafe. There are no studies on the side effects of astaxanthin on unborn children. While it's safe for adults, the fetal growth pattern is different from cell replacement of adults. Consequently, it's better to be safe than sorry. Many drugs that proved safe for adults proved to produce birth defects when mothers used them.
Allergic Reaction
One final area that may be of concern is an allergic reaction to astaxanthin. If you have known allergies, immune disorders or hormone-sensitive conditions, you might consider foregoing the use of astaxanthin. Anyone allergic to shellfish or red salmon, you might find that you also have an allergic reaction to astaxanthin, the compound that makes the salmon and shellfish red.
For most people, astaxanthin is safe and normal doses and best when you take it with a meal that contains fats. The fats in the meal help make the astaxanthin absorb into your system better. You'll find you reap many health benefits from this algae supplement including increased protection from strokes and high blood pressure. Of course, if you take too much, you might end up looking like a pink flamingo.
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