Antioxidants are naturally found in and produced by our body. But health experts insist that women over 40 grab a bottle of alpha lipoic acid supplement. Here's the reason why.
Alphalipoic acid is a vitamin-like chemical many experts consider as a potent antioxidant. A chemical produced and found in our body -- which essentially shows how great our body can be -- alphalipoic acid functions to break down the food we eat and convert it into something we, women over 40, need to be at our best: Energy. While it is primarily used for the management of diabetes, alpha lipoic acid supplements have been known to prevent certain types of cell damage in our body and recycles vitamin levels like vitamin C and vitamin E, therefore, making them serviceable again. But what makes ALA truly unique is that it is more effective in warding off free radicals than other antioxidants, working efficiently and fighting free radicals in both the watery and fatty parts of the cells.
Alpha Lipoic Acid and Anti Aging
Though alphalipoic acid is produced by the body, it only acts as an antioxidant when there is an excess of it. The body produces too little ALA, really not enough to fend off free radicals caused by the natural oxidation process in our body, environmental or external toxins, and other conditions like stress. And both internal and external attacks made to our cells can really overwhelm our whole body, making our natural free-radical defense system weak and unable to do its job. Free radicals moves and reproduces quickly, damaging and injuring the DNA, which creates the perfect hub for the seed of a disease to grow. And what is worse is that free radicals are industrious, they don’t only damage one molecule but it can actually set off a whole chain reaction.
You need to help your body fend off free radicals by taking alpha lipoic acid supplements. But why this antioxidant when you have so many to choose from? According to the UC Berkley Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements, alphalipoic acid is one of, if not, the most versatile antioxidants, which makes the process of deactivating various types of cell-damaging free radicals in our system relatively easy for our body.
Clinical studies show that ALA prevents cell and nerve damage caused by free-radical attacks. In fact, alphalipoic acid is used and approved in Germany to treat diabetes and its nerve-related symptoms, significantly reducing the numbness, burning, tingling sensation, and pain experienced in the arms and legs. Other uses of alphalipoic acid include the treatment and management of chronic fatigue syndrome, memory loss, eye-related disorders like glaucoma and cataracts, and diseases of the blood vessels and the heart.
Alpha Lipoic Acid Recommended Dosage
ALA comes in tablets and capsules, in 50 to 300 milligrams. The recommended dose is 50 to 100 milligrams a day. For the treatment of type 2 diabetes, including, but not limited to, the treatment and management of symptoms, such as the burning pain and numbness in the arms and legs, the recommended dosage of ALA is 300 to 600 milligrams a day.
The effectiveness of alpha lipoic acid decreases with a meal. It is generally recommended that you take alpha lipoic acid supplements on an empty stomach, or at least an hour before or two hours after mealtime.
Side Effects
Alphalipoic acid is safe for most people. One possible side effects of ALA is a rash, especially when you take it by mouth. Expecting and breast-feeding moms, diabetics, thiamine deficient (or those who drink excessive amount of alcohol), and those with thyroid disease should consult with their doctors first before taking alpha lipoic acid supplements.
Interactions
ALA, which essentially has the same structure as biotin, has been shown to compete with the latter in terms of being transported across layers of cells.
If you are under medications for cancer or diabetes such as Amaryl, Micronase, DiaBeta, insulin, Actos, Avandia, Glucotrol, Diabinese, or Orinase, you may want to observe the effects of alpha lipoic acid to the efficacy of your meds.
Alpha Lipoic Acid 100mg Supplements
When it comes to alpha lipoic acid, less is more. While there may be brands that offer alpha lipoic acid over 500 milligrams per tab, you may want to make sure that you stick to lower doses if you’re not being treated for diabetes or diabetic neuropathy. When taken as a general antioxidant support, you may want to look for alpha lipoic acid supplements offering 50 to 100 milligrams of alpha lipoic acids per tab.
Supplement Facts
R-Fraction Alpha Lipoic Acid: 100 mg
Other ingredients: Rice flour, soybean oil, gelatin, and may contain one or both of the following: magnesium stearate, silica.
One of the most effective alpha lipoic acid supplements under the Swanson Health Products name, Swanson Ultra Double-Strength contains a stabilized form of R-ALA, a natural isomer that is said to be at least 3 times more effective than standard alpha lipoic acid. Compared to conventional ALA brands that contain a racemic (or 50-50) blend of synthetic ALA and R-LA, Swanson’s R-Fraction Alpha Lipoic Acid contains 100% pure R-ALA isomer, the natural, biologically-active form of ALA responsible for bringing in most of what alpha lipoic acid can do for our body.
Studies exploring the benefits of isolating the R-isomer, or the R-alpha lipoic acid, have shown that the antioxidant is highly effective in preventing neurodegenerative diseases by working against oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species. R-ALA has been also proven effective to recycle glutathione, which is considered as the body’s most important antioxidant, according to Alison Palkhivala of WebMD.com.
Supplement Facts
Alpha Lipoic Acid: 100 mg
Other ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, gelatin (capsule), colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate.
Source Naturals Alpha Lipoic Acid contains 100 milligrams of water- and fat-soluble alpha lipoic acids, which is perfect for women over 40 since they need their antioxidants to work more efficiently to combat free radicals. Water- and fat-soluble antioxidants work their way through the watery and fatty parts of the cell, protecting both layers from free-radical damage.
Source Naturals Alpha Lipoic Acid 100mg is suitable for vegetarians as it is free from traces of yeast, dairy, egg, and gluten. It doesn’t contain soy, wheat, salt, sugar, starch, preservatives, fragrance, or flavoring.
Supplement Facts
Alpha Lipoic Acid: 100 mg
Other ingredients: Rice flour, gelatin, water, magnesium stearate
Essentially functioning like the rest of the conventional ALA brands, Natrol Alpha Lipoic Acid contains 100 milligrams of alpha lipoic acid needed to produce enough energy for the body to perform its normal functions. But what’s great about Natrol Alpha Lipoic Acid is that the tabs are reasonably sized and coated for easy swallowing, which many women over 50 appreciate.
Natrol Alpha Lipoic Acid doesn’t contain yeast, wheat, corn, milk, egg, soy, glutens, artificial colors or flavors, added sugar, or preservatives. Only $7.99 (60 capsules) at Amazon.com
Just the right supplement if you want to get healthy the safe way.
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