Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that is manufactured in your body and is widely used in the prevention of various diseases.
The main function of this antioxidant is to increase glutathione production, which helps to dissolve toxic substances in the liver.
When your body turns food into energy, free radicals are created and these free radicals are attacked by the antioxidants. The sources of free radicals are cigarette smoke, ultraviolet rays, car exhaust, radiation, and pesticides.
If the free radicals are not damaged, they can cause harmful reactions and damage your cells in the body, making it hard for your body to fight from infections.
If your cells are damaged, you become susceptible to long term diseases like liver damage and diabetes. Alpha lipoic acid works with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E.
Deficiency of this antioxidant include weakened immune system and increased susceptibility to colds and other infections.
Alpha lipoic acid benefits:
- Alpha lipoic acid is vital for growth, helps in preventing cell damage and also helps to get rid of harmful substances from your body.
- Alpha lipoic acid helps in reducing pain, itching, burning, tingling and numbness if you have nerve damage caused by diabetes. It also helps in removing glucose from the blood if you have diabetes.
- It is also useful in treating chronic hepatitis because it relieves stress on the liver and helps in getting rid of toxins from your body.
- This antioxidant can easily pass into brain, so it protects the brain and nerve tissues and is used for the treatment of stroke and other brain disorders that involve free radical damage.
- It is also useful to treat cataracts, heart failure, HIV and glaucoma.
- It improves the smoothness of the skin and eliminates puffiness around your eyes.
- It reduces the impact of toxicity of mercury in patients suffering from mercury intoxications.
- It is helpful for people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Dosage:
The dosage can be purchased ranging from 30mg to 100 mg tablets. For general antioxidant support, the recommended dose of alpha lipoic acid is 20mg to 50mg per day.
The food sources of alpha lipoic acid include broccoli, spinach, yeast and beef. Green leafy vegetables and other animal foods are also sources of alpha lipoic acid.
Precautions and side effects:
Because of interaction with other medications, alpha lipoic acid should be taken under the supervision of health care professional.
Pregnant woman should consult the doctor before taking this supplement. Higher doses can cause stomach upsets and nausea and can also lead to low blood sugar.
Skin rashes have been reported rarely with the consumption of alpha lipoic acid. As this antioxidant is used to improve blood sugar levels if you have diabetes, you should watch the blood sugar levels when taking this antioxidant in order to avoid hypoglycemia.
High dose of alpha lipoic acid also cause strong sulphur like smell in the urine.
