Alpha Lipoic Acid: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

Alpha Lipoic Acid: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory

 

Unlike Vitamin C, which is water soluble and Vitamin E, which is fat soluble,

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a unique antioxidant that is both water and fat soluble,

which allows it to enter all parts of the cell to neutralize free radicals.

Alpha Lipoic Acid contributes to and is important for the production of energy

inside the cell by utilizing sugar to produce energy contributing to mental and

physical stamina, reducing muscle fatigue and neutralizes free radicals. Alpha

Lipoic Acid recycles and enhances the effects of both Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

 

Scientists first discovered the importance of alpha lipoic acid in the 1950s,

and recognized it as an antioxidant in 1988. It has been the subject of research

around the world, some being done at UC Berkeley by Dr. Lester Packer, a leading

expert in the area of antioxidants and a professor of molecular and cell biology

at the University of California at Berkeley. He believes that Alpha Lipoic Acid

could have far-reaching consequences in the search for prevention and therapy of

chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Because it's the only antioxidant that can easily get into the brain, it could

be useful in preventing oxidative stress and damage from a stroke. [21].

 

Alpha Lipoic Acid is easily absorbed when taken orally and once inside cells is

quickly converted to its most potent form, dihydrolipoic acid. Because both

Alpha Lipoic Acid and dihydrolipoic acid are antioxidants, their combined

actions give them greater antioxidant potency than any natural antioxidant now

known. This also makes it important for regulating aspects of the immune system,

in particular, T-lymphocytes. [22].

 

The incidence of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis increases with age.

Free radicals promote inflammatory reactions, which antioxidants have been

successful at diminishing.

 

Scientists recently stimulated the inflammatory response of white blood cells,

resulting in an increase of Intracellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), which

encourages white blood cells to stick to other cells, thereby inflaming tissues.

Alpha-lipoic acid, a potent antioxidant, was then added to the mix. Researchers

said the acid reduced the activity of ICAM-1 to levels in normal, un-stimulated

cells in a dose-dependent manner. It also lowered the activity of NFkB.

According to the study, these changes suggest that alpha-lipoic acid may help

reduce the effects of inflammatory diseases such a rheumatoid arthritis and

psoriasis. [23].

 

Suggested dosage for Alpha Lipoic Acid is 100-200 mg in divided doses daily.

 

SIDE EFFECTS: with alpha lipoic acid are rare but can include:

 

• Skin rash and the potential of hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.

• People who may be deficient in vitamin B1 (such as alcoholics) should take

vitamin B1 along with alpha lipoic acid supplements.

• Chronic administration of alpha lipoic acid in animals has interfered with the

actions of the vitamin, biotin. Whether this has significance for humans remains

unknown.11A.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS. L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com/anti-aging.htm

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit

[Guest guest]

Dear Andrew,

 

Could you tell us which whole foods contain Alpha Lipoic Acid?

The article was so positive that I almost decided to make an exception to my

get-it-from-food rule, but then one comes to the end with the usual caveats.

 

I have started to think of individual nutrients as a benign kind of drug.

Definitely preferable to drug-drugs, and I would not hesitate to use them for a

short period.

But they are still not the same as food.

 

Ien in the Kootenays, who will have the very last of the Brussels sprouts from

the garden for dinner, with home-grown potatoes and wild pink salmon.

Yummy and just bursting with all sorts of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty

acids etc.

 

http://freegreenliving.com

http://wildwholefoods.net

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Ien,

 

Thanks for your post. I hope you are well.

 

Alpha Lipoic Acid is produced in the body, but if you wish to supplement with

foods sources red meat is the best source particularly liver and yeast are good

whole-foods sources of alpha lipoic acid.

 

I hope this helps.

 

 

Blessings,

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

mind, body,spirit

 

 

 

 

 

, " Ieneke van Houten " <ienvan

wrote:

>

> Dear Andrew,

>

> Could you tell us which whole foods contain Alpha Lipoic Acid?

> The article was so positive that I almost decided to make an exception to my

get-it-from-food rule, but then one comes to the end with the usual caveats.

>

> I have started to think of individual nutrients as a benign kind of drug.

Definitely preferable to drug-drugs, and I would not hesitate to use them for a

short period.

> But they are still not the same as food.

>

> Ien in the Kootenays, who will have the very last of the Brussels sprouts from

the garden for dinner, with home-grown potatoes and wild pink salmon.

> Yummy and just bursting with all sorts of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty

acids etc.

>

> http://freegreenliving.com

> http://wildwholefoods.net

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Andrew wrote:

 

" Thanks for your post. I hope you are well. "

 

Thanks, I'm great! No aches or pains and plenty of energy.

 

Andrew wrote:

 

" Alpha Lipoic Acid is produced in the body, "

 

Aha! So the question becomes: what are the precursors?

What does the body need to make ALA?

 

We only eat red meat about twice a month, and pure liver

is too hard to come by. Yeast, one could do but I hate it.

 

Ien in the Kootenays

http://freegreenliving.com

http://wildwholefoods.net