Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a sulfur-containing fatty acid naturally found in your body. Lipoic acid is unique among other antioxidants because it is both lipophilic & hydrophilic (fat-soluble and water-soluble). You get small amounts of lipoic acid in your diet from spinach and collard greens, broccoli, beef, and organ meats. Lipoic acid declines in your body as you age, so it is essential that you supplement with Alpha-Lipoic Acid to achieve the levels your body needs to run optimally.
Benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid
You need alpha-lipoic acid’s antioxidant power. Because it regenerates other antioxidants that were depleted by the ongoing fight with free radicals in your cells. It allows you to use the antioxidants Vitamin C & E, glutathione, and CoQ10 already in your body over and over again.
Alpha-lipoic acid is so efficient at what it does; it boosts the energy in your cells while reducing inflammation and getting rid of heavy metals. In your brain, alpha-lipoic acid boosts the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. And even increases glucose uptake in brain cells. Providing you with a boost of mental energy.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid is used throughout your body. It helps increase insulin sensitivity which reduces the threat of diabetes. And ALA reduces the chances of metabolic syndrome associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and weight gain. A dominant antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid fights harmful free radicals and enhances the functions of other antioxidants. Athletes are keen on its ability to heighten performance. It builds brain power, sharpens mental focus, improves skin, and aids weight loss. Effective treatment for diabetes and neuropathy.
Lipoic Acid is also known as Alpha-Lipoic Acid or ALA and Thioctic Acid. Alpha-Lipoic Acid is a powerful free radical scavenger and a potent antioxidant made by the body and found in every cell. One of its most important characteristics is that, unlike most anti-oxidants, it is both fat-soluble and water-soluble. This enables it to protect a much wider range of physiological environments throughout the body. There is naturally very little free circulating ALA in the body, meaning that supplementation is necessary to experience ALA’s full benefits.
Unlike many other antioxidants, Alpha-Lipoic Acid is both lipophilic & hydrophilic (fat-soluble and water-soluble), and evidence suggests that it may help to regenerate other well-known antioxidants such as Vitamin C. Vitamin E and also raise intracellular levels of Glutathione.
In addition to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects, Alpha-Lipoic Acid has demonstrated neuroprotective, cytoprotective, antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral activities.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a unique, vitamin-like antioxidant that can combat radiation sickness, repair damaged livers, treat diabetes and diabetes-related conditions (polyneuropathy) and protect against oxidative processes that promote premature aging and degenerative diseases. ALA is becoming increasingly recognized as a ‘mitochondrial antioxidant.’ Now a more potent form of ALA – R-lipoic acid – is available to health consumers. Research shows that (R)-lipoic acid is a more biologically active form of ALA that offers greater antioxidant and neuroprotective benefits at substantially lower doses than the synthetic forms of lipoic acid currently available.
ALA to Raise Intracellular Glutathione Levels
Alpha Lipoic Acid can raise intracellular glutathione levels. ALA is easily absorbed when taken orally, and once inside cells, it is quickly converted to its most potent form, dihydrolipoic acid, an even more potent free-radical neutralizer.
Because both alpha-lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid are antioxidants, their combined actions give them greater antioxidant potency than any other natural antioxidant now known.
ALA Critical for Cellular Energy
Cellular energy is behind every single action that happens in your body. Including your brain. Cellular energy is required for muscle movement, producing new cells, wound healing, and thinking.
The mitochondria in each of your cells are the source of this energy. This ongoing energy production process is called the Krebs Cycle. Alpha-Lipoic Acid is a cofactor in two critical enzymatic reactions within the Krebs Cycle.
In the simplest terms, without ALA, cellular energy is not possible. And without cellular energy, well… life is not possible.
Any treatment that can restore healthy telomeres has great potential in the fight against chronic disease.
