Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

WHY I TAKE ASTAXANTHIN I've been taking astaxanthin on and off for the past few years. The first thing I noticed was an improvement in my eyesight. When I'd look up at trees (without my glasses on), I could see the individual leaves clearly and distinctly. Usually they'd be a blur. The same is true about reading fine type in a book or on a computer screen. When I don't take astaxanthin, my eyes can get bleary after working at my computer all day, making it hard to read sometimes. If I take astaxanthin when my eyes get bleary, the words and images on the screen or in the book are clear and easy to read again. The effect is particularly striking when I take it along with other eye nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin The second thing I noticed was that I wasn't getting sunburned. I have a history of burning easily. When I take astaxanthin, I can work shirtless in the hot sun for a couple of hours without getting anything than a mild reddening. Without the astaxanthin, I'd be burned to a crisp. This wasn't an immediate effect, I'd been taking astaxanthin for about a month before I noticed it. HOW TO TELL IF THE ASTAXANTHIN YOU ARE TAKING IS REAL OR FAKE. Fake supplements are a big business. Some companies make counterfeit products and sell them online. Astaxanthin is easy to fake -- some companies just put red food coloring in the capsules! Here's how to tell is your astaxanthin is real or fake. This information is rewritten from an article on the Algae World News website: 1) TEST IT IN SOME OIL Astananthin is lipid soluble (i.e., it dissolves easily in fats and oils). Cut a capsule open and drip some of the liquid inside into a cup with some cooking oil in it. Stir it gently. If the oil in the cup turns red, as the product diffuses out into the oil, it's likely real. If it doesn't, it may be fake. 2) TEST IT IN SOME WATER Oil and water don't mix. So if you're trying to find out if it's really oil in the capsule, cut a capsule open and drip it into a glass of water. Real astaxanthin will spread out on the surface of the water like an oil slick on the ocean... i.e., it will NOT mix into the water. If it diffuses easily into the water it's probably fake. 3) TEST IT ON SOME WHITE PAPER. Does the color change? Drip some on a piece of paper and put the paper in bright sunshine. If it's real astaxanthin its color will fade in about 24 hours, and may get slightly greenish (from cholorphyll). If it's fake (red food coloring in a capsule or gel cap) it won't fade and won't turn green.