The brain, which has a volume of only 1,130 cm3 and weighs just 1.5kg on average, contains more than 100 billion neurons. 100 billion! It is an almost unfeasibly large number. To put this into context, this is more than 14 times the world’s population. In addition, the brain is interconnected with over 180,000 km of nerve fibres, long enough to encircle the globe four-and-a-half times.
Because the brain has very important role in controlling the complicated functions of body it has an excellent defence system. Firstly, it is well protected by the blood brain barrier, which prevents harmful substances from reaching the brain. Secondly, the brain has a specialized immune system, which monitors the presence of any intruders or the formation of internal injuries. Nevertheless, the brain remains vulnerable to attack and damage by free radicals, especially in people over the age of 50 in whom the brain’s natural antioxidant enzymes progressively lose effectiveness. In fact, excessive and persistent conditions of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the brain have been linked to development and progression of neurodegenerative conditions (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease) and cerebrovascular diseases (e.g. ischemic stroke and vascular dementia). For these reasons, brain specialists have started to pay close attention to the preventive and therapeutic effects of micronutrients on brain health such as natural Astaxanthin.
Randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown that 3-months supplementation of natural Astaxanthin (12 mg daily) improve mental quickness, multi-tasking, memory and faster learning in senior subjects complaining of age-related forgetfulness and loss of mental sharpness. Clinical studies also suggest that Astaxanthin helps fight vascular dementia by reducing oxidative by-products in red blood cells and promoting collective improvements of the blood lipid profile, blood antioxidant capacity, capillary blood flow and blood pressure.
At Ingenious, we include Astaxanthin is all our supplements. As the most powerful antioxidant ever discovered, not only is it amazing at protecting the brain from free radicals, it has been shown to:
- improve skin condition
- protect against UV damage
- help protect the body from ill health and disease
- enhance performance in athletes
- improve eye health