Astaxanthin: An Antioxidant for Aging

 

An Antioxidant for Aging

 by Sean Wells

Astaxanthin—a recently discovered compound which is both a carontenoid and an antioxidant—is quickly gaining attention in the world of nutritional supplements, and even a quick examination of its properties makes it easy to understand why. By all indications, astaxanthin should soon hold a place among the very best ingredients available for use in anti-aging nutraceuticals.

Researchers are finding links between inflammation—brought on by the unchecked activity of free radicals in the human body—and a myriad of debilitating and even life-threatening diseases. At the same time, scientists continue to prove that supplementing with antioxidants is essential to lengthening and improving the quality of our lives. In the category of antioxidants, astaxanthin displays abilities like no other.

Astaxanthin displays antioxidant potency some 14 times stronger than vitamin E, 46 times stronger than beta-carotene and 65 times stronger than vitamin C. While this is impressive in itself, astaxanthin also has the ability to affect many tissues of the body that other antioxidants cannot reach. Astaxanthin is able to bond effectively with lipids and proteins, meaning that it can merge with and protect both cell membranes and muscle tissue, providing a new layer of defense for cells and an increase in both immediate endurance and long-term recovery ability in muscles.

The most important muscle in the human body, the heart, directly benefits from astaxanthin in this same way. Indirectly, astaxanthin also helps the heart with its benefits for blood profiles—astaxanthin works to both lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) while also increasing HDL (“good” cholesterol) and lowering blood pressure by strengthening blood vessels throughout the body.

Unlike virtually all other antioxidants, astaxanthin is also able to cross both the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier. This makes astaxanthin supplementation an effective and unique defense for both the brain and the eyes. By improving blood flow to the retina, as well as providing a new protective layer within the retina, there is the possibility for its application in the treatment of general eyes fatigue as well as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

It is believed these same improvements in circulation, cell integrity and antioxidant protection might prove an asset for such afflictions as vascular dementia (brain damage incurred through insufficient blood supply) with greater long-term possibilities regarding diseases such as Alzheimers. The debilitating effects of Alzheimers have been linked with the presence and accumulation of yet another kind of oxidized fat, namely phospholipid hydroperoxides—an oxidized fat that astaxanthin is able to handle as effectively as cholesterol.

To summarize, in astaxanthin is an entirely natural substance with amazing potential in the benefits it offers. As compared to other antioxidants, it is far more powerful in its potency and far further reaching in the vital organs and tissues it is able to provide with effective aid. As we age, it is believed that our own internal defenses begin to malfunction or to slow down, and are eventually overtaken by minor but ongoing instances of damage, with some scientists coming to regard this as what the aging process itself really is. If this is true, it seems astaxanthin will rightfully emerge as one of the leaders in anti-aging supplementation.

nutraMetrix® Prime Astaxanthin Cardio & Visual Vitality Formula uses AstaReal® astaxanthin. Guaranteed for high quality and stability, AstaReal® astaxanthin ranks among the purest and most powerful antioxidants available. .  Typical astaxanthin formulations contain only 2-4 mg per serving — an amount which falls short in delivering all possible benefits for the heart, eyes, skin and muscles. Prime Astaxanthin Cardio & Visual Vitality Formula is made exclusively in a 6 mg dose, which is superior for promoting optimal cardiovascular function, supporting healthy vision and skin, blood flow and muscular endurance.* http://bit.ly/TCDAiZ

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TLS Weight Loss Solution

How it Works

Other programs tell you what they think works; With TLS, it's all about what works for you. TLS is about education and implementation, not limitation. The only limits in TLS are those you put on yourself. Anything is possible when you Live the Lifestyle.
TLS Weight Management Solution encompasses low-glycemic impact eating, behavior modification and body composition, offering an extensive plan that covers everything you'll need to get fit and trim, not just a set of foods you can and cannot eat. In fact, a big part of TLS is helping you make healthy choices while still eating a normal, diverse diet.
TLS teaches you about low-GI impact eating and how to identify new favorite foods, creating new, healthy behaviors, and improving body composition to get your metabolism operating in high gear.
So it's time to get off the diet roller coaster, and time to start Living the Lifestyle.

What you'll Eat

The Glycemic Index measures foods on a 100-point scale. Low-GI foods produce little or no fluctuations in our blood sugar or insulin levels. This is important because when your blood sugar rises quickly, your body increases insulin production, forcing the body into fat accumulation and storage. Controlling the GI of your foods promotes normal blood-sugar levels and enables the body to stay in a fat-burning mode. By changing your diet with TLS, you will feel energized, alert and productive
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Cooking Low GI

It doesn't take a scientist (or a chef) to start cooking low GI. With hundreds of delicious recipes in our database, there are endless combinations that require very little prep time and plenty of room to improvise. You won't be missing out on nutrition, variety or taste.
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Eating Out

The TLS weight loss solution is meant to be a way of life, and it is certainly designed to include dining out, which is one of life's greatest pleasures. We offer a variety of useful tips for all types of restaurants and cuisine, and encourage you to use them as you like, depending on the occasion. No food is completely off limits at TLS, and enjoyment is a big part of the lifestyle.

Meal Delivery

In the Zone Foods has joined Transitions by offering perfectly portioned, TLS-approved meals delivered right to your door, using only the finest organic ingredients. Choose from Fresh sea scallops, beef tenderloin, ahi tuna and much more. http://bit.ly/16WfHcj

Body Composition

Changing what your food is made of will go a long way towards changing what you are made of, but for real changes, a little more specific attention is needed too. Like our eating plan, our exercise program is another example of beauty in simplicity.

Weigh-ins and Measurements

To document your progress, TLS Weight Loss System offers weekly weigh-ins, monthly measurements and a Daily Journal, all designed to keep you motivated and let you know just how far you've come!

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Weight Loss Accelerators

To help adjust to your new lifestyle and prevent plateaus, we offer a comprehensive selection of specially formulated accelerators-each one addressing a different aspect of your metabolism as it relates to weight loss.

TLS CORE Fat & Carb Inhibitor was created to deal specifically with the weight management issues related to leptin sensitivity.  Do you feel like you’re always hungry and never full? Have you tried other products on the market but still struggle with your weight? If so, you may be dealing with leptin sensitivity.  http://bit.ly/SVCKR5







TLS ACTS Adrenal, Cortisol, Thyroid & Stress Support Formula, specially formulated with Holy basil and Ashwagandha, works specifically to promote healthy adrenal gland function, cortisol levels and thyroid function to help control stress levels and minimize weight gain that is associated with increased stress http://bit.ly/ZgNTkD


NutraMetrix Transitions Tonalin CLA contains natural ingredients that can help redistribute fat to fat burning muscle tissue to assist in promoting lean muscle mass and decreasing the amount of fat stored in your body. http://bit.ly/12yyRob






TLS Thermochrome is a unique proprietary formulation that combines the proven sciences of lipolysis and thermogenics to support increased energy levels and weight loss http://bit.ly/SdEuqN

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Heart Health

The heart is comprised of a network of striated muscle tissue known as myocardium. This specialized muscles’ main responsibility is the constant pumping of blood throughout the body. The average human heart involuntarily beats roughly 72 beats per minute in an all-or-none action. The law of all-or-none refers to the fact that the heart will continue to beat and work as long as it is stimulated to do so.
Structure and Function
The human heart has four chambers, two superior atria and two inferior ventricles. The atria are located within the upper portion of the heart, one on the right and one on the left, and are the blood receiving chambers. The ventricles are located within the lower portion of the heart, again one on the right and one on the left, and are the blood discharging chambers. As the heart beats, its four chambers contract (systole) and relax (diastole) in a distinct fashion that allows for continuous blood flow.
The function of the right side of the heart is to collect deoxygenated blood from the body (via superior and inferior vena cavae) and pump it into the lungs so that carbon dioxide can be exchanged for oxygen. The left side of the heart then collects the oxygenated blood returned from the lungs and pumps it out to the body (via the aorta). Blood flows through the heart in one direction, from the atria to the ventricles, and out of the great arteries, such as the aorta.
Heart Disease and Heart Health
Age, sex, genetic disposition, smoking, obesity, stress, diet, as well as other medical conditions can and do affect the health of the heart. Cardiovascular disease or heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Both cardiovascular disease and heart disease are blanket terms used to collectively refer to a variety of diseases/medical conditions that affect the heart. These diseases can affect blood supply to the heart, the heart (cardiac) muscle, heart beat/rate, heart valves, the amount and rate of blood pumped through the heart, and/or the tissues around the heart that support the health and function of the heart.
Although some factors which affect the heart cannot be changed or avoided, there are several things that can be done to improve or retain the health of the heart:

• Eat a health diet that contains plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber and omega 3 fatty acids.
• Fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants that protect cells from damaging free radicals and necessary vitamins and minerals that help the body perform optimally. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provide fiber which not only helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed from food, but also the amount of cholesterol that has already been stored within the body.
• Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, anchovies and mackerel provide omega 3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanenoic acid (DHA). Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to be effective in reducing overall cholesterol levels and triglycerides, improving blood flow and pressure, and may help to reduce the occurrence of the more severe outcomes of heart disease. For vegetarians or those who have fish allergies, flax seeds or flax seed oil provides a nice alternative.
• Avoid fried or fatty foods and excessive sugar and sodium intake as much as possible. Eating or drinking products like these often affect weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.
• Lose weight or try to retain a healthy weight. Obesity strains the heart as well as the body overall and has been associated with several severe health related conditions.
• Exercise often. Exercise can take may forms such as vigorous walking or running, working out at a gym, or just doing yoga or a workout video at home. Exercising on a regular basis helps to reduce stress, retain a healthy weight, and helps to keep bones, muscles and the heart strong.
• Do not smoke, and drink alcohol in moderation. Both vices can have damaging affects on the body tissues themselves and how the body functions.
• Supplement when necessary and under the approval of a healthcare provider. Resveratrol, omega 3 fatty acids, coenzyme-Q10, and several other supplements have proven to be effective in helping retain and support healthy heart functioning.

The heart is a very strong, intricate, and yet delicate mechanism that cannot be lived without. Often individuals never think that what happens to others, such as having a heart attack, could happen to them until it is too late. Though growing older does increase the possibility of heart problems, they can occur at any age. The best course of action for keeping the heart healthy is to do as much as possible to prevent damage, not try and retain what is left after damage has occurred.

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nutraMetrix® Heart Health™ Advanced Co-Q10 contributes to a healthy cardiovascular system, periodontal health, maintenance of normal blood sugar levels, maintenance of cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, sustaining vitamin E levels in cell membranes, energizing the immune system and proper weight maintenance. http://bit.ly/YPLyNa

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