Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant produced by the human body. Antioxidants operate by fighting free radicals, waste products that are made when the body transforms food into energy. Free radicals cause cell damaging chemical reactions to the body, which makes it more difficult for the body to fight off infection and leaves the body more prone to liver damage and diabetes. Alpha lipoic acid is capable of preventing cell damage, eliminating hazardous substances from the body and assisting with growth.
Identification
Alpha lipoic acid is essential to the body. It is needed in order to produce energy and plays a massive roll in the energy producing structures of cells. When there is extra alpha lipoic acid in the body, it works an antioxidant (the body already produces enough of it for its basic function). Consuming supplements or getting alpha lipoic injections are both ways to get an excess of this acid into the body.
Age Related Diseases
Alpha lipoic acid is believed to prevent and treat many diseases and disorders related to the aging process, such as heart disease, diabetes, strokes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, decreases in muscle strength, brain function, energy and immune deficiencies.
Liver Disease
Alpha lipoic acid is helpful in chronic hepatitis treatment, as it helps eliminate toxins from the body and also relieves stress on the liver. Alpha lipoic acid is often used in conjunction with selenium and silymarin (milk thistle) to help treat hepatitis C, which is a very serious form of hepatitis. Along with silymarin, alpha lipoic acid has also been used for treatment of Amanita poisoning, (the result a very dangerous mushroom).
Diseases Being Researched
Several diseases are currently being researched to understand the actual benefits that alpha lipoic acid could have on them. These conditions are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), heart failure, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and cataracts. Alpha lipoic acid may be helpful to treatment of these conditions.
Foods High in Alpha Lipoic Acid
Some foods that are good sources of alpha lipoic acid include broccoli, beef, spinach, yeast, and various organic meats, like heart and kidney.
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