Dr. Oz Interviewed Joe Mercola About the Benefits of Astaxanthin

Today on the Dr. Oz show, alternative medicine specialist Dr. Joe Mercola – who has been described by critics as nothing but a snake-oil salesman – introduced the world to astaxanthin, what he believes is “the number one supplement you should take.” Astaxanthin is an antioxidant found in salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish and crustaceans.

Dr. Oz described the supplement as “poised to become the next Vitamin D, and by that I mean Vitamin D is something that we all recognize, we just don’t have enough of.” Mercola went on to call astaxanthin ”one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatories that we know of,” suggesting that it could help fight arthritis, cardio-vascular diseases, cancer and cataracts, as well as being a performance-enhancing substance for use by athletes.

To his credit, when asked what supplements he himself was taking, Mercola did rattle of a list of a few vitamins, but added, “The better question is what foods am I eating to maximize my health. Supplements are just that. They are by the strictest definition in addition to – not in place of – a healthy lifestyle. In many cases, maybe most cases, they’re not going to cure your problem. They’re not a magic pill.”

Mercola has been a champion for Vitamin D consumption, healthy eating and exercise. But he’s also against vaccines. You can learn more about Joe Mercola and the controversy surrounding him in this three part video series from DoctorOz.com: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Part 2 is particularly compelling.