or call 916 538-1863
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Love Your Heart Super Omega 3
or call 916 538-1863
Monday, February 15, 2010
Circulatory System Keeping Your Heart Healthy for Heart Month
Circulatory System Support
As people celebrate Valentine’s Day we can turn our attention on American Heart Month.
Since 1963, Congress has required the president to declare February “American Heart
Month”. The goal is to raise funds for research and education to focus on cardiovascular
disease as the #1 cause of death in the U.S.
When we think of circulatory health we want to focus on the entire cardiovascular system.
The cardiovascular system is composed of the heart and blood vessels. The heart pumps
blood containing oxygen and nutrients through vessels to organs in the body and in turn
removes carbon dioxide and waste products.
The heart is constantly pumping blood at a rate of roughly 100,000 beats per day.
Therefore, it is important to focus on supplements that can help maximize the strength
and performance of this organ. Supplements like Coenzyme Q10 can support energy
production in heart muscles. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and krill oils can promote
the healthy flow of blood within the arteries and veins. Arginine can help relax the blood
vessels to further promote healthy circulation of blood. Hawthorn can improve heart
function and B-vitamins can protect it. Let’s take a closer look at these ingredients.
Coenzyme Q10 is found in high concentrations in the mitochondria (powerhouse) of cells.
Heart muscle cells are particularly rich in Coenzyme Q10. People with congestive heart
failure have lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 in their heart muscles and can increase the
output of the heart by supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 (1). There is also substantial
evidence that shows supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 can have a favorable effect on
both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (2). While it is clear that Coenzyme Q10 aids
heart function, it is poorly absorbed from the diet. A blend of conjugated linoleic acid,
flax seed oil, and soybean oil can aid the absorption of this nutrient. This is extremely
important because these healthy fats aid the uptake of Coenzyme Q10 in the intestine (3).
A 50 mg dose maximizes absorption.(4)
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids found in fish oil and in krill oil. These
essential fatty acids are not produced by the body and have an abundance of health
benefits in the circulatory system. They reduce inflammation caused by free radicals
which can lead to hardening or thickening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) (5). They also
play a role in preventing blood clot formation and can promote healthy cholesterol levels
in the blood. Supplementing with fish or krill oil is important because the American diet
greatly lacks these essential fatty acids. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) should also be added
to the diet. Vitamin K2 prevents the calcification of arteries and protects against heart
disease (6,7). Krill oil is also rich in phospholipids which are found in cell membranes.
This form of omega-3 fatty acids appears to be better absorbed by the body and has a
more pronounced effect on cholesterol levels (8). Krill oil also contains astaxanthin
which is an antioxidant red/orange carotenoid pigment naturally produced by the krill.
Arginine is an amino acid that is important for circulatory system health. In circulatory
tissues, arginine is converted to nitric oxide which has a relaxing effect on the interior
lining of blood vessels and helps promote healthy blood pressure. Arginine also reduces
platelet adhesion which further promotes healthy blood circulation (9).
Hawthorn has traditionally been used to support the circulatory system. It has been shown
to increase the strength of contractions in the heart and to increase the output volume of
each contraction (10). B-6 (Pyridoxine), B-12 (cyanocobalamin) and folate help to lower
homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine levels are considered a strong indicator of
heart disease risk. The final important ingredient is resveratrol, a potent antioxidant.
Cardiovascular tissues endure a great exposure to oxygen and free radicals. Free radicals
enter the blood from the air we breathe and from the foods we eat. Supplementing the
diet with high potency antioxidants like resveratrol can not only neutralize these harmful
free radicals but can also preserve good health and longevity (11).
1) Molyneux SL, Florkowski CM, Richards AM, Lever M, Young JM, George PM.
Coenzyme Q10; an adjunctive therapy for congestive heart failure? N Z Med J. 2009 Oct
30;122(1305):74-9.
2) Ho MJ, Bellusci A, Wright JM. Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10
for primary hypertension Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD007435.
3) Liu ZX, Artmann C. Relative bioavailability comparison of different coenzyme Q10
formulations with a novel delivery system. Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Mar
Apr;15(2):42-6.
4) Bhagavan HN, Chopra RK. Coenzyme Q10: absorption, tissue uptake, metabolism and
pharmacokinetics. Free Radic Res. 2006 May;40(5):445-53. Review.
5) Simopoulos AP.The omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio, genetic variation, and
cardiovascular disease. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:131-4.
6) Gast GC, de Roos NM, Sluijs I, Bots ML, Beulens JW, Geleijnse JM, Witteman JC,
Grobbee DE, Peeters PH, van der Schouw YT.
A high menaquinone intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009 Sep;19(7):504-10. Epub 2009 Jan 28.
7) Beulens JW, Bots ML, Atsma F, Bartelink ML, Prokop M, Geleijnse JM, Witteman JC,
Grobbee DE, van der Schouw YT. High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with
reduced coronary calcification Atherosclerosis. 2009 Apr;203(2):489-93. Epub 2008 Jul
19
8) Werner A, Havinga R, Kuipers F, Verkade HJ. Treatment of EFA deficiency with
dietary triglycerides or phospholipids in a murine model of extrahepatic cholestasis. Am J
Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2004;286:G822-G832.
9) Adams MR, McCredie R, Jessup W, et al. Oral L-arginine improves endotheliumdependent
dilatation and reduces monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in young men
with coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis 1997;129:261-9.
10) Pittler MH, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure:
meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am J Med 2003;114:665-74.
11) Marques FZ, Markus MA, Morris BJ Resveratrol: cellular actions of a potent natural
chemical that confers a diversity of health benefits Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009
Nov;41(11):2125-8. Epub 2009 Jun 13.
www.mynsp.com/aepalacio
As people celebrate Valentine’s Day we can turn our attention on American Heart Month.
Since 1963, Congress has required the president to declare February “American Heart
Month”. The goal is to raise funds for research and education to focus on cardiovascular
disease as the #1 cause of death in the U.S.
When we think of circulatory health we want to focus on the entire cardiovascular system.
The cardiovascular system is composed of the heart and blood vessels. The heart pumps
blood containing oxygen and nutrients through vessels to organs in the body and in turn
removes carbon dioxide and waste products.
The heart is constantly pumping blood at a rate of roughly 100,000 beats per day.
Therefore, it is important to focus on supplements that can help maximize the strength
and performance of this organ. Supplements like Coenzyme Q10 can support energy
production in heart muscles. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and krill oils can promote
the healthy flow of blood within the arteries and veins. Arginine can help relax the blood
vessels to further promote healthy circulation of blood. Hawthorn can improve heart
function and B-vitamins can protect it. Let’s take a closer look at these ingredients.
Coenzyme Q10 is found in high concentrations in the mitochondria (powerhouse) of cells.
Heart muscle cells are particularly rich in Coenzyme Q10. People with congestive heart
failure have lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 in their heart muscles and can increase the
output of the heart by supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 (1). There is also substantial
evidence that shows supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 can have a favorable effect on
both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (2). While it is clear that Coenzyme Q10 aids
heart function, it is poorly absorbed from the diet. A blend of conjugated linoleic acid,
flax seed oil, and soybean oil can aid the absorption of this nutrient. This is extremely
important because these healthy fats aid the uptake of Coenzyme Q10 in the intestine (3).
A 50 mg dose maximizes absorption.(4)
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids found in fish oil and in krill oil. These
essential fatty acids are not produced by the body and have an abundance of health
benefits in the circulatory system. They reduce inflammation caused by free radicals
which can lead to hardening or thickening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) (5). They also
play a role in preventing blood clot formation and can promote healthy cholesterol levels
in the blood. Supplementing with fish or krill oil is important because the American diet
greatly lacks these essential fatty acids. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) should also be added
to the diet. Vitamin K2 prevents the calcification of arteries and protects against heart
disease (6,7). Krill oil is also rich in phospholipids which are found in cell membranes.
This form of omega-3 fatty acids appears to be better absorbed by the body and has a
more pronounced effect on cholesterol levels (8). Krill oil also contains astaxanthin
which is an antioxidant red/orange carotenoid pigment naturally produced by the krill.
Arginine is an amino acid that is important for circulatory system health. In circulatory
tissues, arginine is converted to nitric oxide which has a relaxing effect on the interior
lining of blood vessels and helps promote healthy blood pressure. Arginine also reduces
platelet adhesion which further promotes healthy blood circulation (9).
Hawthorn has traditionally been used to support the circulatory system. It has been shown
to increase the strength of contractions in the heart and to increase the output volume of
each contraction (10). B-6 (Pyridoxine), B-12 (cyanocobalamin) and folate help to lower
homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine levels are considered a strong indicator of
heart disease risk. The final important ingredient is resveratrol, a potent antioxidant.
Cardiovascular tissues endure a great exposure to oxygen and free radicals. Free radicals
enter the blood from the air we breathe and from the foods we eat. Supplementing the
diet with high potency antioxidants like resveratrol can not only neutralize these harmful
free radicals but can also preserve good health and longevity (11).
1) Molyneux SL, Florkowski CM, Richards AM, Lever M, Young JM, George PM.
Coenzyme Q10; an adjunctive therapy for congestive heart failure? N Z Med J. 2009 Oct
30;122(1305):74-9.
2) Ho MJ, Bellusci A, Wright JM. Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10
for primary hypertension Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD007435.
3) Liu ZX, Artmann C. Relative bioavailability comparison of different coenzyme Q10
formulations with a novel delivery system. Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Mar
Apr;15(2):42-6.
4) Bhagavan HN, Chopra RK. Coenzyme Q10: absorption, tissue uptake, metabolism and
pharmacokinetics. Free Radic Res. 2006 May;40(5):445-53. Review.
5) Simopoulos AP.The omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio, genetic variation, and
cardiovascular disease. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:131-4.
6) Gast GC, de Roos NM, Sluijs I, Bots ML, Beulens JW, Geleijnse JM, Witteman JC,
Grobbee DE, Peeters PH, van der Schouw YT.
A high menaquinone intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009 Sep;19(7):504-10. Epub 2009 Jan 28.
7) Beulens JW, Bots ML, Atsma F, Bartelink ML, Prokop M, Geleijnse JM, Witteman JC,
Grobbee DE, van der Schouw YT. High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with
reduced coronary calcification Atherosclerosis. 2009 Apr;203(2):489-93. Epub 2008 Jul
19
8) Werner A, Havinga R, Kuipers F, Verkade HJ. Treatment of EFA deficiency with
dietary triglycerides or phospholipids in a murine model of extrahepatic cholestasis. Am J
Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2004;286:G822-G832.
9) Adams MR, McCredie R, Jessup W, et al. Oral L-arginine improves endotheliumdependent
dilatation and reduces monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in young men
with coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis 1997;129:261-9.
10) Pittler MH, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure:
meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am J Med 2003;114:665-74.
11) Marques FZ, Markus MA, Morris BJ Resveratrol: cellular actions of a potent natural
chemical that confers a diversity of health benefits Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009
Nov;41(11):2125-8. Epub 2009 Jun 13.
www.mynsp.com/aepalacio
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Clean Your Kidneys for less than $1.00 Using Parsley
CLEAN YOUR KIDNEYS for LESS THAN $1.00
Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments and how are we going to overcome this?
It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley and wash it clean
Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.
Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.
Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!
Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments and how are we going to overcome this?
It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley and wash it clean
Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.
Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.
Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Alpha-Lipoic Acid Great antioxidant and can lower blood sugar levels
ALPHA LIPOIC ACID
Great antioxidant and can lower blood sugar levels
Benefits:
•Enhances the efforts of other antioxidants.
•Encourages energy production.
•Supports blood sugar levels already within the normal range.
•Protects the liver.
•Supports the cardiovascular system.
•Supports nerve cell health.
Alpha Lipoic Acid [Nervous, Glandular] is often called the universal antioxidant. It has both fat- and water-soluble properties and can cross any membrane in the body. Consequently, alpha lipoic acid can protect the integrity of the cell membrane as well as offset cell stress.
Alpha lipoic acid also promotes mitochondrial activity to help keep your body and its tissues vibrant. It also enhances the efforts of other antioxidants and helps support the body’s natural removal of toxins.
In addition to its antioxidant properties, alpha lipoic acid directs calories away from fat production and toward energy production, supports blood sugar levels already within the normal range and enhances the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
NSP Alpha Lipoic Acid is formulated with turmeric, a liver-protecting antioxidant.
Each capsule provides 250 mg alpha lipoic acid.
Adults: Take 1 capsule with a meal twice daily.
•Enhances the efforts of other antioxidants.
•Encourages energy production.
•Supports blood sugar levels already within the normal range.
•Protects the liver.
•Supports the cardiovascular system.
•Supports nerve cell health.
Alpha Lipoic Acid [Nervous, Glandular] is often called the universal antioxidant. It has both fat- and water-soluble properties and can cross any membrane in the body. Consequently, alpha lipoic acid can protect the integrity of the cell membrane as well as offset cell stress.
Alpha lipoic acid also promotes mitochondrial activity to help keep your body and its tissues vibrant. It also enhances the efforts of other antioxidants and helps support the body’s natural removal of toxins.
In addition to its antioxidant properties, alpha lipoic acid directs calories away from fat production and toward energy production, supports blood sugar levels already within the normal range and enhances the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
NSP Alpha Lipoic Acid is formulated with turmeric, a liver-protecting antioxidant.
Each capsule provides 250 mg alpha lipoic acid.
Adults: Take 1 capsule with a meal twice daily.
Visit www.mynsp.com/aepalacio to purchase.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Alpha-Lipoic Acid Quite Possibly the "Universal" Antioxidant
Alpha-Lipoic Acid:
Quite Possibly the "Universal" Antioxidant
Lester Packer, Ph.D., of the University of California, Berkeley, published a lengthy review article on alpha-lipoic acid in Free Radical Biology & Medicine. Several qualities distinguish alpha-lipoic acid from other antioxidants, and Packer has described it at various times as the "universal," "ideal," and "metabolic" antioxidant. It directly recycles and extends the metabolic life spans of vitamin C, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10, and it indirectly renews vitamin E.
Alternative Names: Thiotic Acid or Thioctic Acid, Lipoic Acid, ALA
Alpha lipoic acid is a fatty acid found naturally inside every cell in the body. It's needed by the body to produce the energy for our body's normal functions. Alpha lipoic acid converts glucose (blood sugar) into energy.
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant; a substance that neutralizes potentially harmful chemicals called free radicals. What makes alpha lipoic acid unique is that it functions in water and fat, unlike the more common antioxidants vitamins C and E, and it appears to be able to recycle antioxidants such as vitamin C and glutathione after they have been used up. Glutathione is an important antioxidant that helps the body eliminate potentially harmful substances. Alpha lipoic acid increases the formation of glutathione.
Antioxidants are substances that work by attacking "free radicals," waste products created when the body turns food into energy. Free radicals cause harmful chemical reactions that can damage cells in the body, making it harder for the body to fight off infections and resulting in damage to organs and tissues.
Alpha-lipoic acid is not the same as alpha linolenic acid, which is an omega-3 fatty acid that may help heart health. Confusion can arise because both are sometimes abbreviated “ALA”.
In Germany, alpha-lipoic acid is an approved medical treatment for peripheral neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes. It speeds the removal of glucose from the bloodstream, at least partly by enhancing insulin function, and it reduces insulin resistance, an underpinning of many cases of coronary heart disease and obesity.
Why People Use Alpha Lipoic Acid
Peripheral Neuropathy - can be caused by injury, nutritional deficiencies, chemotherapy or by conditions such as diabetes, Lyme disease, alcoholism, shingles, thyroid disease, and kidney failure. Symptoms can include pain, burning, numbness, tingling, weakness, and itching. Alpha-lipoic acid has been used for years for this purpose in Europe.
Alpha-lipoic acid can lower blood sugar levels. Taking alpha-lipoic acid does appear to help another diabetes-related condition, called autonomic neuropathy, which affects the nerves supplying the heart.
Liver Disease - Alpha-lipoic acid has been proposed as a treatment for alcohol-related liver disease.
Because alpha-lipoic acid can cross the blood-brain barrier and pass easily into the brain, it has protective effects on brain and nerve tissue and is being investigated as a treatment for stroke and other brain disorders. Animals treated with alpha-lipoic acid, for example, suffered less brain damage and had a four times greater survival rate after a stroke than animals who did not receive this supplement.
Age-Related Conditions - As an antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid can neutralize free radicals, which can damage cells. Free radical damage is thought to contribute to aging and chronic illness.
Could Reduce atherosclerosis and weight gain -A new study done with mice has discovered that supplements of lipoic acid can inhibit formation of arterial lesions, lower triglycerides, and reduce blood vessel inflammation and weight gain -- all key issues for addressing cardiovascular disease.
Lipoic acid is also a super-chelator, capable of removing form our bodies excess iron, calcium, copper, toxic molecules such as cadmium, lead and mercury, as well as organic hydrocarbons.
Lipoic acid is used therapeutically for a variety of conditions including chemical hypersensitivity syndrome, heavy metal toxicity, diabetic neuropathy, chronic aggressive hepatitis, elevated liver enzymes and liver toxicity.
Other Conditions - Alpha lipoic acid has also been suggested for cataracts, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, burning mouth syndrome, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Also, bruising susceptibility, low T-Helper (CD4) cell levels, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. In test tubes, alpha-lipoic acid appears to inhibit growth of the HIV virus.
Balz Frei, professor and director of the Linus Pauling Institute - "From what we understand, this supplement would be most valuable as a preventive mechanism before people have advanced cardiovascular disease," Frei said. "However, it may help retard the process at any stage, and may also be of value in treating diabetic complications."
Also of considerable interest, Frei said, is the apparent role of lipoic acid supplementation in reducing weight gain. It appears to have this effect both through appetite suppression, an enhanced metabolic rate, and -- at least in laboratory animals -- has been shown to stimulate higher levels of physical activity, which again would increase caloric expenditure and further reduce weight.
Mice given lipoic acid supplements simply chose to eat less than a control group that did not receive supplements, suggesting a reduced appetite. In another test, mice that received supplements gained less weight than other mice in a control group that were given identical amounts to eat, suggesting a higher metabolic rate and enhanced activity levels.
Weight gain and obesity is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and heart disease, and lower weight and abdominal fat may be one of the mechanisms by which lipoic acid has beneficial effects, Frei said. The study concluded, "lipoic acid supplementation may be a promising approach to prevent weight gain and to lower cardiovascular disease risk in humans."
Evidence shows that even if you are not getting enough vitamin C or E, for example, lipoic acid supplements can make up at least part of the deficit. Alpha lipoic acid is considered a conditionally vital antioxidant nutrient. Specifically, the body makes some of its own alpha lipoic acid, but we still need to get most of it form external sources. Lipoic acid is found in almost all foods, but slightly more so in kidney, heart, liver, spinach, broccoli, yeast extract or supplements. Our ability to make alpha lipoic acid does decline with age.
Side Effects
Side effects of alpha lipoic acid may include headache, tingling or a "pins and needles" sensation, skin rash, or muscle cramps.
Possible Drug Interactions
Alpha lipoic acid may improve blood sugar control, so people with diabetes who are taking medication to lower blood sugar should be monitored under the supervision of a qualified health professional.
Animal studies indicate that alpha lipoic acid may alter thyroid hormone levels, so it could theoretically have the same effect in humans. Their healthcare provider should monitor people taking thyroid medications.
Yours in Good Health!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jack and Chris Ritchason
Back to Herbs Team
References:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/health-illness/wellness/natural-medicine/alternative-medicines/alpha-lipoic-acid5.htm
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/alphalipoicacid/a/alphalipoicacid.htm
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/alpha-lipoic-000285.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080114162506.htm
http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T76343.html
Disclaimer: We do not directly dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of herbs or supplements as a form of treatment for illness. The information found on this Web Site is for educational purposes only to empower people with knowledge to take care of their own health. We disclaim any liability if the reader uses or prescribes any remedies, natural or otherwise, for him/herself or another. Historically all of these herbs & vitamin supplements may nutritionally support the bodies biological systems. Please consult a licensed health professional should a need be indicated.
Back to Herbs
Internet and Global Sales
390 Manhattan Avenue, #B
Grover Beach, CA 93433
Quite Possibly the "Universal" Antioxidant
Lester Packer, Ph.D., of the University of California, Berkeley, published a lengthy review article on alpha-lipoic acid in Free Radical Biology & Medicine. Several qualities distinguish alpha-lipoic acid from other antioxidants, and Packer has described it at various times as the "universal," "ideal," and "metabolic" antioxidant. It directly recycles and extends the metabolic life spans of vitamin C, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10, and it indirectly renews vitamin E.
Alternative Names: Thiotic Acid or Thioctic Acid, Lipoic Acid, ALA
Alpha lipoic acid is a fatty acid found naturally inside every cell in the body. It's needed by the body to produce the energy for our body's normal functions. Alpha lipoic acid converts glucose (blood sugar) into energy.
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant; a substance that neutralizes potentially harmful chemicals called free radicals. What makes alpha lipoic acid unique is that it functions in water and fat, unlike the more common antioxidants vitamins C and E, and it appears to be able to recycle antioxidants such as vitamin C and glutathione after they have been used up. Glutathione is an important antioxidant that helps the body eliminate potentially harmful substances. Alpha lipoic acid increases the formation of glutathione.
Antioxidants are substances that work by attacking "free radicals," waste products created when the body turns food into energy. Free radicals cause harmful chemical reactions that can damage cells in the body, making it harder for the body to fight off infections and resulting in damage to organs and tissues.
Alpha-lipoic acid is not the same as alpha linolenic acid, which is an omega-3 fatty acid that may help heart health. Confusion can arise because both are sometimes abbreviated “ALA”.
In Germany, alpha-lipoic acid is an approved medical treatment for peripheral neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes. It speeds the removal of glucose from the bloodstream, at least partly by enhancing insulin function, and it reduces insulin resistance, an underpinning of many cases of coronary heart disease and obesity.
Why People Use Alpha Lipoic Acid
Peripheral Neuropathy - can be caused by injury, nutritional deficiencies, chemotherapy or by conditions such as diabetes, Lyme disease, alcoholism, shingles, thyroid disease, and kidney failure. Symptoms can include pain, burning, numbness, tingling, weakness, and itching. Alpha-lipoic acid has been used for years for this purpose in Europe.
Diabetes
Alpha-lipoic acid can lower blood sugar levels. Taking alpha-lipoic acid does appear to help another diabetes-related condition, called autonomic neuropathy, which affects the nerves supplying the heart.
Liver Disease - Alpha-lipoic acid has been proposed as a treatment for alcohol-related liver disease.
Brain Function and Stroke
Because alpha-lipoic acid can cross the blood-brain barrier and pass easily into the brain, it has protective effects on brain and nerve tissue and is being investigated as a treatment for stroke and other brain disorders. Animals treated with alpha-lipoic acid, for example, suffered less brain damage and had a four times greater survival rate after a stroke than animals who did not receive this supplement.
Age-Related Conditions - As an antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid can neutralize free radicals, which can damage cells. Free radical damage is thought to contribute to aging and chronic illness.
Could Reduce atherosclerosis and weight gain -A new study done with mice has discovered that supplements of lipoic acid can inhibit formation of arterial lesions, lower triglycerides, and reduce blood vessel inflammation and weight gain -- all key issues for addressing cardiovascular disease.
Lipoic acid is also a super-chelator, capable of removing form our bodies excess iron, calcium, copper, toxic molecules such as cadmium, lead and mercury, as well as organic hydrocarbons.
Lipoic acid is used therapeutically for a variety of conditions including chemical hypersensitivity syndrome, heavy metal toxicity, diabetic neuropathy, chronic aggressive hepatitis, elevated liver enzymes and liver toxicity.
Other Conditions - Alpha lipoic acid has also been suggested for cataracts, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, burning mouth syndrome, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Also, bruising susceptibility, low T-Helper (CD4) cell levels, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. In test tubes, alpha-lipoic acid appears to inhibit growth of the HIV virus.
Balz Frei, professor and director of the Linus Pauling Institute - "From what we understand, this supplement would be most valuable as a preventive mechanism before people have advanced cardiovascular disease," Frei said. "However, it may help retard the process at any stage, and may also be of value in treating diabetic complications."
Also of considerable interest, Frei said, is the apparent role of lipoic acid supplementation in reducing weight gain. It appears to have this effect both through appetite suppression, an enhanced metabolic rate, and -- at least in laboratory animals -- has been shown to stimulate higher levels of physical activity, which again would increase caloric expenditure and further reduce weight.
Mice given lipoic acid supplements simply chose to eat less than a control group that did not receive supplements, suggesting a reduced appetite. In another test, mice that received supplements gained less weight than other mice in a control group that were given identical amounts to eat, suggesting a higher metabolic rate and enhanced activity levels.
Weight gain and obesity is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and heart disease, and lower weight and abdominal fat may be one of the mechanisms by which lipoic acid has beneficial effects, Frei said. The study concluded, "lipoic acid supplementation may be a promising approach to prevent weight gain and to lower cardiovascular disease risk in humans."
Evidence shows that even if you are not getting enough vitamin C or E, for example, lipoic acid supplements can make up at least part of the deficit. Alpha lipoic acid is considered a conditionally vital antioxidant nutrient. Specifically, the body makes some of its own alpha lipoic acid, but we still need to get most of it form external sources. Lipoic acid is found in almost all foods, but slightly more so in kidney, heart, liver, spinach, broccoli, yeast extract or supplements. Our ability to make alpha lipoic acid does decline with age.
Side Effects
Side effects of alpha lipoic acid may include headache, tingling or a "pins and needles" sensation, skin rash, or muscle cramps.
Possible Drug Interactions
Alpha lipoic acid may improve blood sugar control, so people with diabetes who are taking medication to lower blood sugar should be monitored under the supervision of a qualified health professional.
Animal studies indicate that alpha lipoic acid may alter thyroid hormone levels, so it could theoretically have the same effect in humans. Their healthcare provider should monitor people taking thyroid medications.
Yours in Good Health!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jack and Chris Ritchason
Back to Herbs Team
References:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/health-illness/wellness/natural-medicine/alternative-medicines/alpha-lipoic-acid5.htm
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/alphalipoicacid/a/alphalipoicacid.htm
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/alpha-lipoic-000285.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080114162506.htm
http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T76343.html
Disclaimer: We do not directly dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of herbs or supplements as a form of treatment for illness. The information found on this Web Site is for educational purposes only to empower people with knowledge to take care of their own health. We disclaim any liability if the reader uses or prescribes any remedies, natural or otherwise, for him/herself or another. Historically all of these herbs & vitamin supplements may nutritionally support the bodies biological systems. Please consult a licensed health professional should a need be indicated.
Back to Herbs
Internet and Global Sales
390 Manhattan Avenue, #B
Grover Beach, CA 93433
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Sunshine Heroes Children Chewable Multiple Vitamin and Mineral
• Provides 50–100% of the children’s RDA for 11 vitamins and minerals.
• Contains a proprietary blend of whole foods, fruit juice concentrates and micronutrients, supplying health-protective antioxidants and phytochemical nutrients.
• Ensures growing bodies get adequate amounts of vital nutrients.Sunshine Heroes Multiple Vitamin & Mineral
[Vital Nutrition]. Sunshine Heroes Multiple Vitamin & Mineral provides vitamins and minerals to supplement a child’s diet and to ensure that these important nutrients are not being missed. It provides 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamins A, C, D3, E, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and zinc.
Download the Sunshine Heroes coloring book (PDF).
Watch the Sunshine Heroes cartoon.
Chew up to 4 soft chews per day as a dietary supplement. Chew carefully and thoroughly before swallowing.
To order Sunshine Heroes Children Chewable Multi-vitamins My Nature's Sunshine
Super Trio - Super Supplemental Vitamins, Super ORAC and Super Omega 3
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Super Trio Information and Usage
Nature's Sunshine Super Trio is a combination of three outstanding nutritional supplements in one convenient packet. Super Trio makes good nutrition more convenient than ever and contains 60 easy-to-carry cello packs. It is designed to be taken twice per day and contains all of the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants that your body needs to maintain optimal health.
To purchase your monthly supply visit My Nature's Sunshine
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