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Activate your “energy gene”
Al Sears, MD
ToRichard Potvin
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Mar 10 at 2:21 PM
Richard,
Feeling tired is NOT an inevitable part of aging.
And if you find yourself fatigued each day, you could suffer from a deficiency that most conventional doctors have never even heard of.
sears
A marine algae called haematococcus pluvialis is nature’s best source of astaxanthin.
I’m talking about an astaxanthin deficiency.
This natural red pigment is nature’s most potent antioxidant. But it’s only been in the last decade that science has begun to understand just how many health benefits it has.
When I first started recommending astaxanthin in my clinic, patients told me how it:
Took care of their arthritis pain by eliminating inflammation…
Improved their memory…
Prevented colds and flu…
Lowered blood pressure…
Boosted heart health…
Enhanced vision…
And helped with weight loss
But it also provided them with newfound strength and stamina.
That’s because, in addition to its antioxidant properties, astaxanthin is also a powerful regulator of your mitochondria, the little energy packs in each of your cells.
Recent studies reveal that astaxanthin works by activating Pgc1a gene expression via an anti-aging enzyme called AMPK, which kicks your mitochondria into high gear.
It’s not surprising that Pgc1a has been nicknamed your “energy gene.”1
Other studies show that astaxanthin increases exercise metabolism and athletic performance, while also shortening your recovery rates.
In fact, earlier this year researchers found that astaxanthin improved stamina and exercise performance by a jaw-dropping 62%.2
Another study revealed that when combined with exercise, astaxanthin burns excess abdominal body fat and recommended it be used to treat and prevent obesity.3
Meanwhile, earlier research proved that these freshwater algae:
Lower triglyceride fat levels by 20%4
Reduce blood pressure5
Lower blood sugar levels6
Improve cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration7
Boosted heart health…
Protect against multiple cancers8,9,10,11
Your primal ancestor got plenty of astaxanthin in their diet, which means your body has evolved to thrive on it.
If you’ve ever seen wild salmon swimming upstream against raging rivers – performing what is certainly the greatest athletic feat in nature – you’ve witnessed the power of astaxanthin before your eyes.
It’s also what gives salmon – as well as shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and even the feathers of flamingos – their pink color.
It comes from a type of algae called haematococcus pluvialis and it’s been part of the Earth’s marine ecosystems for at least a billion years. When these microalgae are exposed to sunlight, they produce astaxanthin for protection from the damaging effects of UV radiation.
This protective shield is then transferred to the algae’s predators, and then to the predators of those predators.
That’s why the best natural source of astaxanthin is wild-caught Pacific salmon – although you can also find it in other pink-colored seafood, like lobster, crab, and shrimp.
One 6-ounce serving of wild salmon provides around 1 mg of astaxanthin.
But you won’t get that from farmed salmon because they don’t feed on colorful crustaceans, plankton, and algae. It explains why their flesh is a lifeless grey color.
To turn farmed salmon pink, fish farmers feed them synthetic astaxanthin, which is derived from petrochemicals that haven’t been approved for human consumption in any country.
2 More Ways To Get The Best Astaxanthin
Here’s what I tell my patients when it comes to supplementing with astaxanthin:
Beware of man-made supplements. Synthetic astaxanthin has flooded the market. And, in most cases, there’s no label to tell you you’re about to consume something made from petroleum.
Studies conducted at Creighton University and Brunswick Laboratories showed that synthetic astaxanthin is more than 20 times weaker than natural astaxanthin.12
I strongly recommend paying the extra money to avoid taking a worthless petrochemical pill.
Look for natural forms of astaxanthin. The bottle will state: “Haematococcus pluvialis algae extract.”
Take the right amount. Most supplement manufacturers recommend taking 4 and 6 mg a day. But based on scientific trials and my own research at the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, you need more to get the benefits.13
I recommend at least 10-12 mg per day — in divided doses — to improve overall health and counter daily fatigue.
But remember, you can’t just swallow some astaxanthin capsules and wash them down with water. To get the full benefits, take it with food or a tablespoon of coconut oil.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
LNishida Y, et al. “Astaxanthin as a novel mitochondrial regulator: A new aspect of carotenoids, beyond antioxidants.” Nutrients. 2021 Dec 27;14(1):107.
Liu C, et al. “Effects of astaxanthin supplementation on fatigue, motor function and cognition: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Biol Res Nurs. 2024 Jul;26(3):469-480.
Ikeuchi, et al. “Effects of astaxanthin in obese mice fed a high-fat diet” Biosc Biotechnol Biochem. 71:60521-7. 2007.
Hata N, et al. “Astaxanthin and its impact on triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in diabetic patients.” Diabetes Met. 2019.
Preuss HG, Echard B. “High dose astaxanthin lowers blood pressure and increases insulin sensitivity in rats: Are these effects interdependent?” Int J Med Sci 2011; 8(2):126-138.
Medoro A, et al. “Astaxanthin as a metabolic regulator of glucose and lipid homeostasis.” J Function Food. 2024; 112(10):10593.
Ishikawa S, et al. “Effect of astaxanthin on cataract formation induced by glucocorticoids in the chick embryo.” Curr Eye Res. 2015 May;40(5):535-40.
Prabhu PN, et al. “Antioxidative and antiproliferative effects of astaxanthin during the initiation stages of 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine-induced experimental colon carcinogenesis.” Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2009 Apr;23(2):225-34.
Nakao R, Nelson OL. “Effect of dietary astaxanthin at different stages of mammary tumor initiation in BALB/c mice.” Anticancer Res. 2010 Jun;30(6):2171-5.
Wakshlag JJ, et al. “Evaluation of the protective effects of all-trans-astaxanthin on canine osteosarcoma cell lines.” Am J Vet Res. 2010 Jan;71(1):89-96.
Zhang L, Handong WH. “Multiple mechanisms of anti-cancer effects exerted by astaxanthin.” Mar Drugs. 2015 Jul; 13(7): 4310-4330.
Capelli B, et al. “Synthetic astaxanthin is significantly inferior to algal-based astaxanthin as an antioxidant and may not be suitable as a human nutraceutical supplement.” Nutrafoods. 2013;12:145.
“Astaxanthin: A review of the literature. The scientific evidence on the uses, contraindications, and interactions of this carotenoid.” Nat Med J. 2012:4(2).
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