Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a relatively newly discovered triple antioxidant with amazing capabilities in neutralizing free radical damage in the body. It also stands guard as well in reducing pain in diabetic patients. As a highly regarded health and wellness component it has the ability to quickly reduce sensory symptoms and pain that is linked to diabetic neuropathy. The pain in these people may very well be treatable with Vitamin D but it is believed that Alpha Lipoic Acid aids in this process as a facilitator or synergist. The results are a reduction in pain, stress, and muscle tension. Other symptoms such as burning and numbness are curbed as well by nutritional supplements such as ALA. In one human clinical trial conducted for pain reduction properties of ALA participants were given ALA intravenously (200 mg) daily for 21 days. The majority of the participants showed significant pain reduction.
Another condition that can be positively affected with the supplementation of Alpha Lipoic Acid is asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory response that affects the respiratory system causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. This fear factor in this situation alone is enough to exacerbate the problem with the panic causing one to hyperventilate.
Alpha Lipoic Acid has been, in a number of studies, shown to reduce oxidative stress that occurs from metabolic functions and leads to inflammation. It was reported in Time Magazine in February of 2005 that inflammation is the secret killer that leads to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, arthritis and other diseases. The properties of ALA that combat asthma are the same properties that may be effective in the aforementioned conditions. ALA has shown to play a supporting role alongside Vitamin C and Vitamin E in alleviating asthma and bronchitis.
One of the contraindications of ALA is a possible lowering of blood glucose levels which lead to hypoglycemia. Due to this possibility anyone who is diabetic and employing anti-diabetic medication should closely monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their medication accordingly. The underlying point here is that one would seem to find appeal in the possibility of minimizing the use of toxic pharmaceutical solutions for diabetes and replace or supplement a nutritional supplement alongside or in its place.
In terms of aging and longevity Alpha Lipoic Acid does not seem to directly impact human cells but it does trigger the body’s own regenerative mechanism whereby the rebuilding and repairing of cells is initiated. One of those particular rebuild and repair compounds produced in the body is glutathione. Glutathione production seems to increase with the administering of ALA. This catalytic biochemical property alone can have an enormous impact on preventing and/or reversing disease. ALA has one two punch with diabetics as the treatments that diabetics employ may lead to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This particular disease, which is caused by diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity, can be missed unless by a liver enzyme test detects it. The liver is the lifeblood of our youth. A poorly functioning liver accelerates the aging process as it loses it efficiency in removing toxins from the body and protecting the body from harmful substances. The more damage done to the body from a lack of liver function the more energy required to sustain that body. A lack of energy at the cell level results in a deficit of energy for the systems that we notice first when we begin to age. Skin repair, connective tissue repair, vision, cognitive ability and memory capacity, etc… are all systems that begin to suffer as energy is diverted to the life sustaining organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs.
As you can see the benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid are far reaching and exciting in the age of discovery of natural solutions to disease and aging.
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