Astaxanthin 101Astaxanthin (asta-zan-thin) is a deep red coloured phytonutrient synthesized by microalgae called Haematococcus, and is also known as the "King of Carotenoids". It's grown in fresh water using sophisticated techniques that encourage the algae to grow its own powerful medicines protecting it from oxidation, UV radiation and other environmental stressors.

Astaxanthin is actually what gives salmon their reddish colour and allows them to perform heroic feats like swimming upstream against the current and leaping up waterfalls.

Some of the strongest pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories limit the production of prostaglandins and therefore ease swelling and pain. However, these drugs can cause side effects as it is very unnatural and unbalanced for the body to deal with extreme suppression of one single mediator, without affecting the balance of the others.

Alternatively, naturally occurring anti-inflammatory foods will ease inflammation by gently inhibiting several mediators, including prostaglandins, to calm the system as a whole.

Even though astaxanthin is not as powerful as leading pharmaceutical anti-inflamamtories, it is found to be one of the strongest ones in nature. Several double blind, placebo controlled animal and clinical trials shows that astaxanthin naturally inhibits many of the known inflammation mediators, which eases inflammation and pain without the side effects.

Unlike pharmaceuticals, don't expect astaxanthin to work right away. It seems to take around a 30 day "loading" period before the beneficial effects really seem to take place (it can be less or more, depending on any counteractive dietary or lifestyle factors you may be doing).

In addition to that, the dosage is also a big factor in determining benefits you can feel. A general rule for your intake of astaxanthin can be roughly based on 1 mg to every 10 pounds of body weight, to a maximum of 20 mg's of astaxanthin a day (effects seem to taper off after that dosage).

So if you weigh 160 pounds, you could easily take up to 16 mg's of astaxanthin for maximum benefits (it's virtually impossible to overdose on astaxanthin). Keep in mind that the amount you require will also be based on your level of inflammation.