Discover Alpha Lipoic Acid, Unique Antioxidant
It's unbelievable but true nonetheless that alpha lipoic acid
was discovered way back in the 1950's.
Most people interested in health supplements and antioxidants
have only heard about it in recent years.
This is simply because back in the 1950's we didn't realize just
how varied its functions and health benefits were, which is why
it's become such a popular nutritional supplement in the last
decade.
One thing we now know is that alpha lipoic acid is a powerful
and unique antioxidant. Antioxidants as many of us know help
counter the damage created by free radicals in the body.
Free radical damage has been implicated in many degenerative
diseases afflicting people in the Western world.
For people serious about improving their health with nutritional
supplements, alpha lipoic acid antioxidant should be a strong
consideration to one's supplement regimen.
One reason to consider its possible inclusion is because our
bodies only produce it in very insignificant amounts and it's
hard to get enough of from the foods we eat if we want
therapeutic and medicinal levels.
Just How Important is It?
Alpha lipoic acid impacts almost all of our body's cells. Other
than its role as an antioxidant it also plays a pivotal role in
helping the B vitamins convert the components of food -- namely
carbs, protein, and fats -- into stored energy....which we use
later as needed.
Even when we think about antioxidants, we tend to think of such
vitamins as C and E because that's what the media always talks
about.
And it is true that Vitamins C and E are good antioxidants. But
what you probably didn't know was that alpha lipoic acid can
help "recycle" these vitamins in the body.
What this means is that we can get more use and potency out of
the Vitamin C and E in our bodies if we have alpha lipoic acid
antioxidant present too.
Another characteristic that makes alpha lipoic acid unique is
that it has properties that make it readily absorbable by most
of the tissues in the body. Many vitamins and such are fat
soluble or water soluble and therefore cannot pass thru many
barriers.
For instances, lipoic acid can be absorbed by tissues of the
brain, the liver, the nerves, and more.
And it is precisely this ability that has launched alpha lipoic
acid in the spotlight as a hopeful candidate to mitigate a range
of some of the most serious and widespread health conditions the
Western world faces, such as diabetes, heart disease, and
Alzheimer's.
In some studies, alpha lipoic acid antioxidant has been used to
treat nerve damage, such as diabetic neuropathy. It is also
being studied for a potential ability to help diabetics respond
better to insulin.
With respect to liver health, its potent antioxidant properties
may help guard the liver against injury from roaming free
radicals. As you may know, the liver plays a crucial function in
ridding our bodies of toxins.
Because of its possible role in promoting liver health, alpha
lipoic acid antioxidant is sometimes used for liver ailments,
such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.
Interestingly, it may also play a role in eye health as well,
helping to ward off cataracts.
To be sure, it will be exciting to see what future studies hold
for this unique antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid.