Functional Food
Functional Food
Astaxanthin: what is this natural pigment?
In short: astaxanthin is a red carotenoid (antioxidant) that is made naturally by the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis and gives salmon its colour. Supplements often use the natural algae form, a few milligrams per softgel. No health claims for astaxanthin are authorised in the EU. Astaxanthin is a natural pigment that gives salmon, prawns and flamingos their pink to red colour. It belongs to the carotenoids, the same family that beta-carotene belongs to. In this article you can read, factually, what astaxanthin is, where it comes from, the difference between natural and synthetic astaxanthin and what to look for when choosing a supplement.
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What is resveratrol and where does it come from?
In short: resveratrol is a polyphenol (antioxidant) found in grape skins and in the plant Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), among others; the latter is the usual source for supplements. No health claims for resveratrol are authorised in the EU. Resveratrol is a natural plant compound that became known for its presence in the skin of red grapes and in red wine. It belongs to the polyphenols, a large group of plant antioxidants. In this article we explain factually what resveratrol is, which sources contain it, why Japanese knotweed is so often used and what to look for when choosing a resveratrol supplement.
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