Article Index > Newsletters > April 2012

During short-term exercise, the body first burns carbs for fuel, but during long-term exercise, the body depletes carb stores and starts to burn body fat.

Doctors said that astaxanthin, the bright red carotenoid in salmon and shrimp, increases muscle enzymes that help convert fat to energy. To test this theory, 14 competitive cyclists took 4 mg of astaxanthin per day or a placebo.

After 28 days, the bikers fasted and rode for two hours to deplete stored carbs, and then took a 12-mile time trial. The astaxanthin group completed the trial much faster than the placebo group.

Reference: Journal of Sports Medicine; 2011, Vol. 32, No. 11, 882-8.

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