| Alpha-lipoic acid... there is probably no nutritional | | | | Substances we take into our bodies don't know they |
| supplement of greater benefit to type 2 diabetics | | | | are supposed to follow rigid mathematical rules but, |
| that will actually help lower blood sugar levels! Acting | | | | more or less half the lipoic acid you take is gone 2 |
| in the body in many of the same ways as insulin, this | | | | hours later, and nearly 90% is gone six hours later. |
| potent antioxidant acts inside cells, on the surface of | | | | So to get continuous benefit from this antioxidant, |
| cells, and between them. | | | | it's important to take smaller doses throughout the |
| Alpha-lipoic acid enables your cellular furnaces known | | | | day instead of one large dose in the morning. For |
| as mitochondria, to burn glucose safely by soaking up | | | | instance, if you could benefit from taking 1,200mg |
| the excess free radicals of oxygen that otherwise | | | | daily, take 200mg at your main meals, at snacks and |
| might injure your cells. It protects the lining of your | | | | before bedtime to give you 24-hour antioxidant |
| red blood cells from the caramelization process | | | | protection. |
| known as glycosylation, (the process that makes | | | | The metabolic processes supported by lipoic acid |
| HbA1c), and it encourages the flow of fluid in your | | | | requires the addition of B vitamin biotin. You need to |
| tissues so that you might even get a tighter | | | | add 100mg of biotin for every 1,000mg of lipoic acid |
| abdomen and a better defined jaw line, even as you | | | | you take. Biotin can be taken all at once, or you may |
| gain lower blood sugar levels. | | | | prefer to use a brand of lipoic acid combined with |
| The benefits of alpha-lipoic acid are greatest, | | | | biotin in the same capsule. Either way, you need |
| however, when taken the right way. The biggest | | | | more biotin every day. |
| mistake type 2 diabetics make with this supplement | | | | It's also possible to buy more expensive products |
| is to take too much all at once. | | | | that contain R-lipoic-acid. If you are buying "alpha-lipoic |
| In general: | | | | acid," you are getting a mixture of two isomers of |
| - If your stomach feels like it is fizzing, you have | | | | lipoic-acid. One has atoms arranged with a leftward or |
| taken too much | | | | "sinister" twist, and is known as S-lipoic-acid. The |
| - If your urine smells sulfurous, you have taken too | | | | other has atoms arranged with a rightward twist, and |
| much, and | | | | is known as R-lipoic-acid. The usual manufacturing |
| - If your blood sugar level plummets with no other | | | | process creates a mixture of both forms. |
| identifiable cause, you have really, really taken too | | | | The human body only recognizes R-lipoic-acid: about |
| much. | | | | 40% of "alpha-lipoic acid" is actually R-lipoic-acid, so it's |
| And taking too high a dose of this most potent of all | | | | better value to pay about twice as much for |
| antioxidant supplements for type 2 diabetics, just | | | | R-lipoic-acid products. Take half the dose but twice |
| does not do your body good. The half-life of lipoic | | | | as much biotin. |
| acid in the bloodstream is less than 2 hours. | | | | |