AMINO ACIDS

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Author of The Super Antioxidants by F. Balch M.D.

AMINO ACIDS

Amino acids are normally thought of as the building blocks of proteins,

but they are also crucial in the formation fo many enzymes, hormones,

and antibodies. They really play many roles in the way cells work, and

their proper balance is crucial to maintaining good health.

Nutritionists divide amino acids into two categories: essential and

nonessential. Those labels are really misleading. " Nonessential " means

that, in the opinion of those who did the research, your body

manufactures enough of these acids all by itself given a normal,

balanced diet. Those chemicals thta your body does not manufacture

enough of they label as essential, meaning that it is esential that you

go out of your way to take in extra amounts of these elements in your

diet. Since the time this research was done and these labels were

attached, we have learned a lot about the importance of some of those

" non-essential " amino acids, especially as they relate to antioxidant

activity. In sone cases, the optimum levles is now thought to be

significantly higher than the researchers previously assumed, and the

labels have been altered. For instance, cysteine, and tyrosine are now

labled " semi-essential " amino acids. If we ignore the labeling system

and talk about which ones are essential to your health, glutathione,

cysteine and alpha lipoic acid (ALA) have to be at the top of the list,

at least in terms of what they do as antioxidants.

ALPHA LIPOIC ACID (ALA)

Lipoic acid may be the ideal antiaging antioxidant. It is an essential

coenzyme factor in the production of energy and a powerful antioxidant

on its own. Not only does lipoic acid improve your metabolism, it

protects you from harmful oxidative by-products of that metabolism.

Lipoic Acid Is " The Unniversal Antioxidant "

Lipoic acid can go anywhere in the body because of its unique

characteristic of being both water and fat soluble. Because it directly

and indirectly helps in the protection of every body compounent from

oxidative stress, lipoic acid deserves to be called " the universal

antioxidant. "

Lipoic acid interacts synergistically with vitamins C and E,

potentiating and conserving them. When your body is deficient in lipoic

acid, the other antioxidants do not work as well together.

LIPOIC ACID AND DIABETES, RETINAL DISEASE, CATARACT FORMATION, AND

PERIPHERAL NERVE AND HEART DAMAGE

Lipoic acid is good for the diabetic, normalizing the blood sugar, and

even more important, protecting, against glycatio, which causes many of

the disorders asociated with diabetes. Used in Europe for decades, it

is proven to reduce retinal disease, cataract formation, and peripheral

nerve and heart damage. A dose of 300 to 600 milligrams per day may be

necessary to control elevated sugar. If you take drugs or insulin,

monitor your blood sugar closely. The normal dose as a preventitive

supplement is 20 to 50 milligrams per day.

LIPOIC ACID PROTECTION AGAINST ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Lipoic acid can reduce elevated total serum cholesterol by 40 percent,

as well as prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, the oxidative

reaction that results in hardening of the arteries. Lipoic acid is

transported in LDL with vitamin E energizing it. Of course, vitamin E

is the most potent antioxidant protector against LDL oxidation. Thus,

lipoic acid offers double protection against atherosclerosis: It

reduces total serum cholesterol and keeps it from oxidizing. Lipoic

acid may improve oxygen uptake of the heart as well. It is just plain

good for cardiovascular health and shoud be a part of all heart disease

treatment.

LIPOIC ACID PROTECTS AGAINST CANCER

There is also evidence that lipoic acid protects specifically against

cancer. Oncogenes are genes that cause cancer. Nuclear Factor

lappa-B(NF kappa- activates the oncogenes in the presence of free

radicals and other carcinogens. This results in the unreglated cell

growth of cancer. Lipoic acid can enter the cytosol of cells and

prevent activtion of the NF kappa-B. Additionally, lipoic acid enhances

immune function, your first line of defense against cancer, by

neutralizing free radicals that would compromise it. Again, lipoic acid

is a double-barreled weapon against cancer, just as it is in protecting

against cardiovascular disease. These are the two diseases that kill

more of us in the United States than all of the others combined.

LIPOIC ACID IS AN EFFICIENT DETOXIFIER FOR NEUTRALIZING TOXIC METALS

Finally, lipoic acid is an effecient detoxifier in that it binds up and

neutralizes the toxic metals lead, mercury, and cadmium. Lead continues

to plague us through auto exhausts. The very toxic mercury intoxicates

us by way of our amalgam dental fillings and contaminated fish. Cadmium

is present in cigarette smoke. Iron and copper are essential minerals,

but excessive or unbound free iron and copper behave as free radical

oxidants, a dangerous situation. As a chelator, lipoic acid controls

these, too.

More on Amino Acids To Come.....

Debbie