Aging, Inflammation & Supplements to Help Combat It Now

These supplements have each helped my life in such major ways. The fact that they also help with anti-aging is really a bonus for me.

Aging, though inevitable, can impact people in different ways. It is a complex process that is a result of numerous factors. One of the most prevalent features of aging is chronic inflammation. It is unfortunately one of the most common features of any unrelenting illness or disease. The World Health Organization ranks chronic inflammatory diseases as the greatest threat to human health. Some symptoms of having inflammation include: body pain, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, gastrointestinal (stomach) problems of all kinds, weight gain, and frequent infections. As far as skin is concerned, you can also tell when your under eyes are puffy, when your face looks inflamed or you have bloodshot eyes.

I truly believe that your diet is the most important factor in overall health. Being active and fit is also very important, but I think diet plays the most important role in overall health. These recommendations here are supplements – meant to be a helpful add-on to everything else you’re doing to maintain your health.

Below, I will provide you with detailed information on the supplements and after that I will provide you with my own experience with it, why I take it and how it’s helped me or my family. If you decide to take any new supplements, please do your own research as well and research any potential side effects. If necessary, consult a doctor. Whatever you decide to do, it is at your own risk. I really hope these help you as much as they’ve helped me. Below, I will also link to the ones I specifically purchase & use from Amazon, but feel free to get them from wherever you are most comfortable.

Astaxanthin

A Very Potent Antioxidant

Astaxanthin is said to be 500 times stronger than Vitamin E and 6000 times more potent than Vitamin C. This is a naturally occurring substance, coming from a specific type of microalgae & certain seafood in the ocean. The process which creates astaxanthin  involves algae which produces this powerful antioxidant once its water supply diminishes and it goes into survival mode to protect itself against sunlight, UV radiation and lack of nutrition.

If you purchase this supplement, it’s important to buy the correct one, which is called: Haematococcus Pluvialis Microalgae. Some companies sell a non-natural source which is made from petrochemicals. The one I will recommend is Hawaiin Astaxanthin and it is from Haematococcus Pluvialis Microalgae. If you wanted to consume astaxanthin through food means, it is found in higher amounts in: wild-caught Alaskan salmon, trout, krill, krill oil, shrimp and crayfish. It gives flamingos and salmon their pink hue. See my full post about astaxanthin & product recommendations here.

Skincare Benefits

Astaxanthin has been shown in clinical studies to increase skin moisture, moisture retention, elasticity, as well as promote skin smoothness, decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. It has UV-blocking properties, which help the skin against sun-related damage. Some examples of sun-related damage include sun spots, hyperpigmentation issues, as well as other damage caused on the cellular level to your skin. It has also been proven to increase circulation to your skin as well, through increased blood flow. Regarding its antioxidant benefits, astaxanthin can neutralize multiple free radicals at once, protecting your skin and body from oxidation, damage, and inflammation.

Overall Health Benefits

Astaxanthin has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. A few studies also suggest it may help with eye conditions such as: cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy as well as inflammatory eye diseases. It helps with immune system regulation and fighting against free radicals. Experts believe it also has anticancer properties as it works by decreasing mutagenesis and carcinogenesis by inhibiting the oxidative damage to cells (basically, through its anti-inflammatory affects). Taking it regularly may reduce inflammation in your cardiovascular system, possibly reducing the risk for cardiovascular diseases. For some study participants, it lowered their presence of C-reactive protein in their body (while taking 12mg daily). Other studies have shown it to have hearing protective benefits as well as being a benefit to those managing diabetes. For diabetics, research suggests it reduces oxidative stress in pancreatic cells caused by high blood sugar, as well as improving glucose and serum insulin levels. There was also a study in Japan, on mice, which said it inhibited body weight gain, increases in adipose fat tissue, while consuming a high fat diet. They believe, if the same humans, it may help with metabolic and weight issues. Some people also take it to help treat Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Studies are being conducted regularly, so there may be updates to how it may benefit our health.

My Experience with Astaxanthin

I initially bought this because I had to have a couple radiological scans done – a CT and mammogram. I really try to avoid having excessive scans done as they are quite high in radiation levels and I don’t want my health to worsen or to increase my chances of cancer. I’ve had way too many of these types of scans done in the past, when I didn’t know any better. So, I did some research on what can be done to mitigate radiation damage and I then discovered Astaxanthin and started taking it right away! When I first started taking it, I noticed that I just felt so much better when I would take it. I have an slight noticeable increase in energy overall when taking it and just feel better overall. Attributing skin improvement to a supplement is kind of hard to do, in my opinion. But, I have read numerous reviews on Amazon where people have stated it has helped them as a sun protectant (similar to sunscreen) – they call it an internal sunscreen basically. One last thing, I almost forgot to mention this. I ended up looking up weight loss related to Astaxanthin because since I happened to start taking it regularly, I also happened to lose 10 pounds. I honestly do not know if there is a true correlation, but I researched it in trying to find out why I lost the weight. I have hypothyroid issues and even when I used to workout daily, I would not lose a single pound ever. So it really is shocking that I lost 10 pounds and I thought maybe there was something really going awry with my health. But it seems my health is fine and the only other thing I question is whether or not the weight loss might be partially from this supplement. There has been some limited data to suggest it’s possibly associated with weight loss. I will need to research it more though.

Experience for Others Who Have Taken It

The Amazon reviews were interesting and I’d like to share some of what has been said in them. A 66-year-old user said she has been taking it for 14 months and it has done amazing things for her skin – clearing up dry patches, making her skin glowy and also improving eyesight. Several users have said it helped get rid of summer skin rashes. A long-term user (of 5 years) stated it has eliminated several long-term physical problems related to her period. She said sometimes her ailments would come back when she went off the supplement for several weeks. She said she cannot do without it. Another reviewer who has dealt with longterm vision issues, said that her vision improved within four weeks of taking it.

Here is the Astaxanthin I buy from Amazon. I personally take 4mg or 8mg per day, sometimes 5 times a week, with breaks in between as well.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

NAC is Essential to Make Glutathione – the Most Powerful Antioxidant in Your Body

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is the supplement form of cysteine.
Cysteine is found in most high-protein foods, such as: chicken, turkey, eggs, sunflower seeds and legumes. NAC, along with two other key amino acids, glutamine and glycine, work together to create gluathione. Glutathione is one of the most vital antioxidants in your body. It works to protect your cell and tissue from damage while neutralizing free radicals. It is absolutely essential to your health and well-being and some researchers believe it can contribute to living longer. It not only fights the effects of environmental toxins, but it can also prevent side effects from drugs as well (ie: Tylenol, which can be very damaging).

My Experience with NAC

I discovered this incredible supplement when researching medical studies, trying to find a way to help a a close friend who was dealing with Tourettes Syndrome tics & comorbid issues. I had also heard from some people in the medical industry that it is a supplement used at hospitals to help treat overdose patients. It also helps mitigate overall damage to the body from a variety of toxic substances – through boosting glutathione – making the body stronger in its defenses against all toxic and cell and tissue-damaging agents. For my friend with Tourettes, it has drastically, reduced his tics at times, in conjunction with a few other key nutrients (and avoiding triggers). It is one of those supplements that is also often recommended for kids on the Autism spectrum. It also helps to take when you notice you are beginning to get sick (in addition to Elderberry Syrup – which is my other holy grail supplement). Many years ago, my son and I used to get ill every couple of weeks – until I started taking better care of our health and until I discovered this key supplement. I tend to take NAC a few times a week – about 600mg per time. If sick, I will take more. If I have to have some type of radiological scan done with high radiation levels, I will take it about 3x a day for a week. It has helped many people I know, to stop their illnesses (ie: cold and flu) in its tracks when given NAC, in addition to Elderberry. When it comes to skincare, I really truly just believe this is another key player in fighting the effects of aging and chronic inflammation.

Here is the NAC I buy from Amazon. I personally take one per day, 600mg each and more if I am sick. I take breaks from it also.

Another Recommendation

• • Turmeric is probably my favorite supplement to date. It is another anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, natural supplement that is absolutely incredible. It can get rid of (some of) your chronic pain, and I believe it can help with those puffy under eyes as well – through combating overall inflammation in the body. I take it every single day, though I always take days off from supplements at times. I used to buy a large bag of organic turmeric and fill clear capsules myself, but lately I’ve just been buying it from Walmart or Amazon. So many of my family members who are not open-minded to trying new things, have happened to try this (for pain issues – shoulder and back problems) and it has helped them all tremendously. I cannot recommend it enough. Here’s the organic Turmeric I buy from Amazon.

Sources:

• • https://articles.mercola.com/vitamins-supplements/astaxanthin.aspx
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525019/
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/