Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a valuable commodity in the antioxidant arena. It has been shown to be highly effective in treating diabetic patients who may be suffering from diabetic neuropathy. Often times this condition can be treated with Vitamin D but the combination of ALA and Vitamin D proves to have a synergistic affect on the pain involved. Burning and numbness are two other symptoms associated with this condition and both are positively affected by ALA. In one particular human clinical trial a number of patients were administered 200mg intravenous ALA and the majority experienced a large measure of pain reduction and/or cessation Another condition that can be positively affected with the supplementation of Alpha Lipoic Acid is asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory response 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. Vitamin C and E seem to work better when used in conjuction with ALA in the treatment of 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. ALA supplementation seems to have a positive impact on glutathione production. 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. Aging is accelerated by the buildup of toxins in the body and when the liver is functioning at a suboptimal level the results are quite noticeable over time. 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 available energy is directed to life sustaining organs such as lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart. 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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