What Is The Best Antioxidant?
The importance of supplementing your diet with an effective antioxidant cannot be stressed enough. Research shows that over 60 forms of disease are caused by an imbalance among antioxidants and free radicals known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS is an umbrella term that includes both free radicals and other chemicals that, while not technically radicals, are damaging to the body.
Exercise, various toxins, poor diet and age increase the abundance of ROS. To circumvent pre-mature aging and the onset of disease, this increase in ROS must be met with an increase in antioxidant supplementation.
An effective antioxidant fits three criteria. They are as follows:
- Active in water environment of the body
- Active in fat environment of the body
- Enhances the levels of our bodies natural antioxidant, glutathione
Unfortunately, few people are obtaining effective antioxidants. Rather, they are utilizing vitamin E, C or fruit derived antioxidants. Although all have their own health benefits, these compounds do not fit the criteria mentioned above as to qualify as an effective antioxidant.
The importance of supplementation with an effective antioxidant has also been stressed among the scientific arena. The consensus among scientists is that "diet supplementation with effective antioxidants protect the mitochondria against respiration-linked oxygen stress, with preservation of the genomic and structural integrity of these energy producing organelles and concomitant increase in functional life span".
In laymen's terms, this simply means that supplementation with an effective antioxidant will ensure that you are healthy and active into your later years, while those who are not privy to this information will likely be playing checkers in a nursing home.
Alpha-lipoic acid is the most effective antioxidant known to man due to its ability to quench damaging ROS in both a water environment and fat environment of the body. In other words, it is able to operate both inside and outside of our cells. Additionally, alpha-lipoic acid greatly enhances the levels of our body's natural antioxidant, glutathione.
Glutathione's best attribute is its ability to protect us from cancer. Additionally, glutathione depletion has been shown to be the culprit of age-associated neurological damage. Needless to say, any increase in glutathione is greatly warranted.
Aside from protecting us from ROS, alpha-lipoic acid offers other health benefits. As stated by Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D., in Lipoic Acid: The Metabolic Antioxidant:
"Both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics will be excited to learn that alpha-lipoic acid has been used for nearly 30 years in Europe to treat diabetic neuropathy, help regulate blood sugar and prevent diabetic retinopathy and cardiopathy." Passwater says, "Lipoic acid not only protects the nervous system, but also may be involved in regenerating nerves. It is also being studied in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease."
In summary, supplementation with 300 to 1000mg of alpha-lipoic acid daily, protects our genetic material from damage caused by ROS and increases glutathione levels. Combined, these benefits help to prevent Exercise Induced Oxidative Stress and various forms of disease such as Parkinson, Alzheimer's, hardening of the arteries, and cancer, just to name a few! It also does wonders for diabetics...
© Shane Ellison
Shane holds a Master's degree in organic chemistry and has first-hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis. Learn more about alpha-lipoic acid and how to obtain the purest form very inexpensively at: HealthFX Nutraceuticals
Referencias:
1. Midaoui, Adil. et al. Prevention of Hypertension, Insulin Resistance, and Oxidative Stress by Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Hypertension 2002;39:303-307
2. Miquel, Jamie. Can Antioxidant Diet Supplementation Protect against Age-related Mitochondrial Damage? Ann N Y Acad Sci 959;508-516 (2002)
3. Packer, Lester. et al. Neuroprotection by the Metabolic Antioxidant Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Vol. 22, Nos. 1/2, pp. 359-378, 1997
4. Salazar, MR. Alpha Lipoic Acid: A Novel Treatment for Depression. Med Hypotheses 2000 Dec;55(6);510-2
5. Hutleburg, Bjor. et al. Lipoic Acid Increases Glutathione Production and Enhances the Effect of Mercury in Human Cell Lines. Toxicology 175 (2002) 103-110
6. Arivazhagan, P. et al. Effect of DL-Alpha- Lipoic Acid on Glutathione Metabolic Enzymes in Aged Rats. Experimental Gerontology 37 (2001) 81-87
¿Sabes qué es un RSS/XML? 
|
|