What is Alpha Lipoic Acid?

You can be sure that a supplement has some remarkable therapeutic possibilities when it makes headlines on the five o’clock news. A recent experiment which showed the conditions of rats that had been fed a diet that was totally deficient in vitamin E tested alpha lipoic acid, which caused the rats to return to full health even though no vitamin E was replenished. The results of this test are profound, as giving these rats an alpha lipoic acid caused existing stores of vitamin E that the body was previously unable to use to be regenerated. Alpha lipoic acid is a vitamin-like antioxidant that has been used in Europe for a long period of time. It has recently emerged as an extremely impressive therapeutic agent that scavenges free-radicals. Recent studies have suggested that it has the ability to stop some degenerative diseases, the oxidative process of aging, and restores the health of diseased organs. Additionally, it has the ability to make up deficits of vitamin E or C and could potentially be one of the best treatments that have emerged for diabetes. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is considered to be more potent than vitamins E and C, as well as coenzyme Q10. Unlike other antioxidants, ALA has properties that make it superior because it is able to replace certain nutritional supplements, while potentiating others, and inhibiting tissues from deterioration that is associated with diseases. This supplement is also both fat and water soluble, which allows it to protect lipid and aqueous cell structures. Alpha lipoic acid is a compound that is synthesized in small amounts in the body, but can also be supplied from food or supplement sources. A vitamin-like substance, it contains sulfur and also plays a crucial role in energy reactions. It can be found in liver, yeast, spinach, organ meats, broccoli, red potatoes, and red meat. When it is orally ingested, alpha lipoic acid is not compromised in the GI tract or the liver. Numerous studies have been conducted on ALA, all of which confirm its positive effect on metabolic processes, with recent clinical tests supporting its ability to enhance free-radical protection, slow the aging process, and guard against a variety of degenerative diseases. ALA was discovered in the 1930s, where it was originally classified as a vitamin, and later categorized as an essential coenzyme when scientists discovered that it was involved in the energy processes of cell mitochondria. It wasn’t until 1988 that scientists found that it also has powerful antioxidant effects. Alpha lipoic acid is important because it protects us from free-radicals which are present in a body as a result of the number of toxic substances such as auto exhaust, tobacco smoke, pollution, preservatives, and additives that we are exposed to on a daily basis. These free radicals can actually accelerate the aging process, causing premature tissue breakdown to occur. Additionally, our environment will continue to surround us with these pollutants that create free radicals. There are things we can do to minimize our health risks, which include exercising, eating nutritiously, and not smoking. However, these measures are rarely enough to decrease our risk for certain degenerative disease a substantial amount. ALA is beneficial because it scavenges oxidants that are left behind and helps to convert carbohydrates, fatty acids and protein to energy that is needed to drive muscle movements.

Sweet Tooth: Fact or Fiction

While for a long time I did not understand the scientific foundation for why my sweet-tooth seemed to always win out I knew very well that was a battle that I would eventually always loose. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but my willpower could only hold out so long and then I would succumb to the temptations of sweets. In order to fully understand this we need to take a little trip through history.Now the history I am talking about is more like ancient history, more specifically pre-historic history, because that is were this whole problem started. In all fairness for millions of years it wasn’t a problem because much like any animal in the wild we never knew when our next meal would be. If you have any doubt about that statement, just take an hour or so and watch one of those animal shows on your television. Often they talk about the fact that a pride of lions for example may not make a kill for a couple of weeks. The problem here is, if they don’t kill something many times they don’t eat. Imagine going for a week or two weeks before you had a chance to sit down for a good size meal.What do you think you would do once you were able to sit down to that meal? More than likely it would be a long while before you would get up from the table. That is the way you are wired at the genetic level. Deep down in your DNA you are wired to eat as much as you can, when you can, simply because for millions of years you had no way of knowing for sure when you were going to get your next meal. That same genetic code is what drives you today, because your DNA does not know that you have a surplus of food waiting at every corner today.Worse than that, our genetic wiring has us programmed to eat foods that are sweet and/or high in fat. Why – you ask? When you don’t know where your next meal is coming from it is very important that you take in the maximum amount of calories possible to sustain your bodily functions until such time that you get another meal. Not only are the calories important, but the type of calories. While the news media and all the hype about foods high in fat give fatty foods a bad name, the truth of the matter is that your body needs fats to function. These essential fats are very important for your brain functions, your nerves, and the list goes on. Again if you are going between long periods of time between meals, you are programmed to desire the tastes of foods high in fat. If you are starting to feel like the odds are stacked against you, you are correct, but the good news is that as you understand more about what is going on in your body you can eat foods that are good for you, but will turn off the alarms that drive you to eat the foods that are not so good for you.I am sure that you all know that there are parts of the brain that process feelings of pleasure and thus when something triggers that portion of the brain we tend to remember that and what to repeat that feeling of pleasure. Most notably, sexual experiences set off these triggers in the brain and as such there is no problem with keeping the human species alive and well. Needless to say, food also plays an integral part in the pleasure centers of our brain, in conjunction with the parts of the brain that tells us when we are full. Without getting in to all of the details of the biochemical signals that play a role in that series of communications that tell us we are full, that brownie was really good, or hey you really want more of that ice cream, I will tell you that there are a series of chemicals (Ghrelin, Leptin, Cholecystokinin, PYY) that control all of these essential communications. While I’ve covered this in-depth in another article I will mention that it is well documented that some of these chemicals measure lower than they should in over weight people leading researchers to believe that this flaw in their chemical makeup is leading to their weight problems.By now you are starting to understand why your willpower to stay away from that second helping, to avoid the fatty foods or to simply pass on dessert is under constant attack. Would you be surprised to know that the fast food industry, the manufactures of processed foods, and the food industry as a whole have known this information for a long time? As a matter of fact that understand everything that I have just mentioned and exactly how all these chemicals interact to bring the most pleasure to that all important section of our brain. As a matter of fact the food industry and those responsible for marketing these products study this at length, many times in the form of study groups or taste tests. Armed with this information they make sure that they can maximize the response all the way from your taste buds in your mouth right to the point of when you body is going to tell you that you have had enough and worse yet, all the way to the point when your body is going to start a craving for more of what you just finished. With what seems to be all of the odds stacked against us there are still many things under our control. Additionally, you can take heart in the fact that you are not in this battle along. By many estimates close to 70% of the US population is overweight to some degree and yet with all of the information that is known about appetite, diet and our biological make-up we seem to have no solution to the problem. You may or may not be aware of the fact that when it comes to track records the group of drugs with the worse record of all are weight-loss drugs. The reason being is that people will loose weight for a given period of time and then our genetic programming kicks in and we are right back to where we started before. Unfortunately, we have become a society of instant gratification which is not a good way to approach any kind of weight-loss program. In short we don’t gain weight over night and as such we should not expect to be able to get the weight off over night. Combine all of the weight-loss drugs on the market and the 50 million or so diets programs that are available to you on the market today and in short you have a fantastic recipe for total confusion. While there is nothing sexy or mysterious about the real answer there is one available to all of us. That answer is to eat a highly varied natural foods diet. That means eating lots of unprocessed foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish and when possible eating fruits and vegetables in their raw uncooked state. Additionally, eating much smaller more frequent meals is one of the best things that I have ever done. If you think about it that makes a lot more sense in that you body has to deal with smaller quantities of food and as such you body is much better equipped to take full advantage of the calories and nutrients that you have taken in. Not to mention as a bonus you just feel like you get to eat more, but in reality you will have eaten less total calories. For me personally the best way of eating is more of a Mediterranean type of diet. When traveling through the Mediterranean regions all of the meals typically focused on lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains/whole grain breads, lots of seafood combined with some red meats and for the most part most of the foods that I ate where all organic foods. As you now know we are preprogrammed genetically to really like the fatty and sweet foods, but by sticking with a highly varied natural foods diet our genetics will not rule our waistlines.References:1) Wikipedia: Appetite - href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appetite2) Time Magazine: Science of Appetite - href=”http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1626795_1627112_1626670,00.html3) FAQs.org (Appetite) - http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/A-Ap/Appetite.html4) Stephen Cherniske, M.S., The Metabolic Plan, The Random House Publishing Company, 2003, ISBN: 0-345-44102-85) Wikipedia: Blood Sugar - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_sugar6) Wikipedia: Glucose - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucose7) Paul Zane Pilzer, The New Wellness Revolution, pg 62 – 76, John Wiley & Sons, 2007 ISBN: 97804701061818) Wikipedia: Cholecystokinin (CCK) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholecystokinin9) Wikipedia: Ghrelin - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghrelin

Supplements For Good Health Are Safe Or Not?

Human nutrition is the study of how food affects the health and survival of the human body. Without food our bodies can not stay warm, build or repair tissues and maintain our heart beat. Eating the balanced food can help us avoid diseases. Above stated and other important functions of body are fueled by chemical substances in our food called nutrients. These nutrients are classified as water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Water helps the absorption of the food materials through the digestive tract. Importance of water can be judged that a person can survive only eight to ten days without water. Water also maintains a natural balance between dissolved salts and water, which are present inside and outside of cells. While water has no calorific value, without it we can not absorb the food we eat and eliminate waste through body's digestive system. Carbohydrates are the human body's key source of energy, providing four calories of energy per gram. When carbohydrates are broken down by the body the sugar glucose is produced. Glucose is critical to help maintain tissue protein, metabolize fat, and fuel the central nervous system.Proteins help to build and repair body tissues from hairs to fingernails. In addition to this proteins speed up chemical reactions in the body, serve as chemical messengers, fight infection and transport oxygen from lungs to the body tissue. Although proteins produce four calories of energy per gram the body uses proteins for energy only if carbohydrates and fat intake is insufficient. When trapped as an energy source protein is diverted, from the many critical functions it performs for our bodies. Fats provide nine calories of energy per gram. They are most concentrated of the energy producing nutrients, so our bodies need only very small quantities. Fats play an important role in building the membranes that surround our cells and in helping blood to clot. Once digested and absorbed fats help the body absorb certain vitamins.Fats stored in the body cushion vital organs and protect us from extreme cold and heat. Vitamins and minerals are needed by the body in very small amount to trigger the chemical reactions necessary to maintain good health. Thus we can make out the need of all the nutrients for maintaining good health. Lack of any of the nutrients gives rise to many problems. Thus we should always eat a balanced diet. But nowadays our eating habits are getting worse. Most of all food includes saturated fats rather than simple nutrients. Thus the correct intake on the nutrients is maintained by use of regular supplements. If the protein count in our body is less then the doctor advises us to take protein powders. The protein powders are a treasury of proteins. In the same way we can take multi vitamin or multi mineral tablets in case of a deficiency in the body.

Vitamins And Minerals For Good Health

Until recently most nutritionists would have said that it is unnecessary to take supplements as you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need from a healthy diet. But now many experts are eating their words. New studies show that we can benefit from extra helpings of certain nutrients. You do not need a fistful of pills in fact mega dosing can be dangerous. And you still must eat right that means maintaining a healthy diet featuring vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, dairy and enough fiber. Given out faulty food habits one multi vitamin and one multi mineral tablet a day with the regular dietary requirements may be beneficial. A daily pill can plug a few nutrient gaps, and it may help u live longer. But always be cautious of overdose. Now the question is that how should one choose from the multitudes of multi vitamin and multi mineral tablets available in the market. The answer to this question is that one should always skip products marketed for stress, heath health or other special conditions as they are more expensive and the extra ingredients are of questionable benefit. One should always go for a brand that packs no more than hundred percent of Recommendation Daily Allowance from the national council for medical research as some may contain a dangerous amount of certain nutrients. The ladies on post menopausal should choose a tablet with little or no iron. As overload of this mineral can lead to heart problems. She should opt for a tablet with calcium supplement of one gram per day. This will prevent osteoporosis. One should not get attracted to a brand because of its high price as the regular brands can provide the same benefits as fancy label pills. But one should always be careful of the overdose as it can be toxic for the body. The vitamin D plays a key role in growing strong bones and keeping them healthy by facilitating the absorption of calcium. Of late vitamin D is also gaining attention for helping to head off other medical problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, colon, breast and ovarian cancers. Experts believe that there is nothing else you can take that has this ability to prevent cancer. There is no such specified dietary recommendation for vitamin D as it was believed that we get enough of it from sun exposure. However experts now advise that adults should consume about one thousand international units of vitamin D either from food or from pills. Supplements generally contain four hundred international units per tablet. Over dosage is toxin for both adults and children. Toxicity can lead to constipation, back ace and high cholesterol. Increase in calcium levels may lead to hypertension and heart problems.

Does Pyruvate Help In Weight Loss?

There is currently a debate as to whether or not pyruvate can help in weight loss. There are two distinct camps, although the body of evidence favors those that believe that they can lose weight by taking a pyruvate supplement. However, pyruvate is not an essential substance, which means that it is produced in the body from other substances. It is, in fact, the product of glycolysis, in which glucose is metabolized in the presence of oxygen to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule of energy, and two molecules of pyruvate. The two pyruvate molecules then generate further energy by one of two pathways. In the first, the pyruvate forms acetyl-coenzyme A which is the first part of the Krebs Cycle, also known as the Citric Acid Cycle, which is responsible for energy production in the mitochondria. In the second, the pyruvate forms oxaloacetate, which is either used to form intermediates used in the Krebs Cycle or to generate more glucose through the process of gluconeogenesis.The ATP formed in the mitochondria is a form of stored energy, just like a battery. When energy is released it is converted to adenosine diphosphate and the battery is discharged. The Krebs Cycle then adds another phosphate group to convert it to the triphosphate again, and so on. The energy is not carried round the body, but used in the cells in which it is generated. Every cell in the body contains a mitochondrion, and generates its own energy. Pyruvate is needed in every one of them.The upshot of all this is that pyruvate is created naturally by the body, and therefore needs no supplementation. However, if there is a need to stimulate or increase the breakdown rate of blood sugars to prevent their later metabolism to fat, and hence help to prevent weight increase, then supplementation could be effective. In fact, it can be argued that the more pyruvate available then the more is the potential for energy to be generated, although it is glucose that is the main player in that scene. In the absence of supplementation, of course, pyruvate is available naturally in cheese, red wine, dark beer and apples, and is also produced from pyruvic acid. The acid itself can cause some gastrointestinal problems, but when it sees a calcium or sodium salt, such as common salt, it forms the stable pyruvate. But the real question is, if pyruvate can be used to reduce weight, then by what mechanism? Without a projected mechanism then the practical results cannot be explained, which renders pyruvate just a player but not necessarily the major player. The answer to this question is slightly open in that while many believe that pyruvate can be used to reduce weight and body fat, just as many do not, believing that there is insufficient evidence to reach that conclusion. However, if we examine the potential mechanism and determine the probability of that occurring, then we should be able to answer that question.Athletes claim that pyruvate supplements help them to perform better through its effect on the Krebs Cycle that is responsible for the generation of energy in the body. It speeds up the transport of proteins and glucose into the mitochondria of the muscles, and so enables energy to be generated rapidly within the muscle cells when required. This is a reasonable hypothesis, and one that is perfectly feasible given our knowledge of how the Krebs Cycle works. Pyruvate is an essential component of the Cycle, and in the presence of an excess of the other components, then additional pyruvate might well speed it up, and so generate energy faster and perhaps even increase the rate of thermogenesis and the burning of fat in the body.However, there is another possible reason for pyruvate helping to give the appearance of an increase in energy levels, and one that is just as feasible. During exercise, whether in a gym or in actual competition, the body first uses the energy generated in the mitochondria through the natural operation of the Krebs Cycle. Once the blood glucose is used up, the glycogen stores in the muscles and liver are used. Glycogen is the body's reserve store of energy, and is used when blood glucose has been depleted. Since pyruvate generates an increasing reliance on blood glucose for energy, the store of glycogen remains unused until it has to be, and hence the body appears to gain in energy. However, although this can explain at least partially the increased energy athletes experience when taking pyruvate supplements, it does not explain the loss in fact, that generally occurs after the glycogen reserves have been used up. A six week double blind study carried out in Connecticut in 1999 on 26 people given 6 grams of pyruvate a day for 6 weeks resulted in a significant decrease, not only in body weight, but also in the mass of body fat, in the group given the pyruvate, but no effect in the control group. A study in Pittsburg again showed pyruvate to result in loss of fat, with a group of overweight women losing three pounds more fat than a control that were given a placebo. However, the results here were questionable since the difference in weight loss was small in comparison to the original weight of the subject. The same is true of a follow-up study in which the control group lost only two pounds less than the pyruvate group. A third study in the same group should only a 1.5 pound difference. These results are no conclusive, although the weight of evidence is in favor of pyruvate being effective in helping you to lose weight. However, it has not yet been universally accepted. Is there a downside to using pyruvate that could argue against its use unless its effects have been conclusively proved? Probably the only one is that pyruvate can cause gastrointestinal problems if taken in large doses, but these would have to be in the region of around 30 - 50 grams daily, which is above those normally recommended not to mention very expensive.Although the jury is still out on pyruvate, it seems that it does help to reduce weight, and that apart from the gastric discomfort when excessive amounts are used, it has no side effects. It is also of use in enhancing energy levels, and in demand by athletes and body builders, and its effects are supported by theory and the way it works in the mitochondria to generate energy.

Can the Fatty Acid CLA Help me Loss Weight?

CLA is conjugated linoleic acid, a compound known as a trans fatty acid due to its stereochemistry, and while trans fatty acids are generally regarded as harmful, CLA is not because it is conjugated. This means that it has alternate single and double bonds in the backbone carbon chain, and the overall energy of the molecule is therefore reduced. Linoleic acid itself is one of the omega-6 fatty acids, the 6 referring to the double bond at the sixth carbon from the omega and of the carbon backbone chain. It is believed to be the cause of heart disease and obesity due to its increasing use in the diet at the expense of omega-3 fatty acids. When the molecule is conjugated, however, the fatty acid has different chemical properties to the standard isomer, and natural CLA is mainly found in cattle products, such as beef and dairy products. Conjugated linoleic acid is present in cattle because it is formed when linoleic acid is converted to oleic acid by rumen bacteria, that are responsible for the microbial fermentation of the feed of ruminant animals such as sheep and cattle. When oleic acid is formed, so too is CLA. However, the form used in supplements is manufactured from vegetable oils, and therefore suitable for use by vegetarians. The usual vegetable oils used are safflower oil and sunflower oil.It is believed to possess several beneficial properties, including antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, but it is for its ability to reduce body fat that it is best known to most people. A growing amount of information is being collected on the use of CLA as a supplement in the weight loss industry, although there are as yet no definitive mechanisms that explain its action. However, recent studies have indicated it possess properties that can help to reduce the levels of low density lipoproteins in the blood, and reduce the possibility of atherosclerosis due to LDL oxidation by free radicals. It is also theorized that CLA in some way regulates the prostaglandin biosynthesis that controls the level of hormones in the body that can regulate growth. An increase in growth hormones is one way in which athletes promote an increase in muscle bulk, while reducing their fatty tissue mass. CLA is also purported to increase thermogenesis, and so promote the loss of body fat and overall weight. Although most studies on the effect of conjugated linoleic acid in reducing body weight have been carried out on animals, recent animal studies have indicated that might not so much reduce weight, as to increase muscle bulk while reducing that of body fat. The end result, therefore, is not a loss of weight, but a leaner body that has more muscle and less fat. All it needs is the results on animals to be transferred to humans, and this, of course, is frequently the case. However, initial studies on the use of CLA in the human diet have been very positive, so the signs are good. Most scientific progress in human biochemistry has been obtained by virtue of prior studies on animals. These studies, of course, have been beneficial to the animals, making them leaner and much fitter than they otherwise would have been. It is believed that the same will be true of humans taking CLA as a supplement. In fact, recent studies are split about 50/50 with regard to the effects on humans. While some studies have shown no benefit, about an equal number have shown a positive benefit in the reduction in the mass of fat in the body. Some of the negative studies may have been flawed in measuring total body weight, and not the relative amounts of muscle and fat, and also basing their results on people already with a low level of fat in their body. In that respect, then, the results look very favorable, and taking CLA as a supplement is likely to help you to reduce fat and increase muscle, if not altogether lose total body weight. However, is that not the end result that most people want? They might not want to be lighter in weight, just to have more muscle mass and less fat tissue.In a study shown at a 2002 Experimental Biology meeting, it was shown that is was possible to substantially reduce body fat mass by taking CLA alone, and when it was taken in association with guarana, both the size and the number of fats cells in the body were reduced by 50%. However it has also been shown that CLA can be oxidized by free radicals shortly after ingestion, and that sesame lignans help to prevent this. Since sesame lignans can also be used in conjunction with CLA to reduce fat by increasing the level of fatty acid oxidation in the liver, than the benefit of CLA seems obvious. The antioxidant effect of CLA is one possible explanation for its anti-cancer properties, though there are others. Its antioxidant properties also have an anti-catabolic effect, in that it can help to prevent the wastage of muscle tissue. The FDA has published studies that attest to these anti-cancer properties. Diabetics, however, should consult with their physician before taking CLA as a supplement, since there is a body of thought that it reduces sensitivity to insulin. Others believe the opposite, so more studies might be needed in this aspect of the substance before it can be said to be safe for use by diabetics.Over recent years, the American diet has increased significantly in its content of the undesirable linoleic acid, due to its ubiquitous presence in margarines, and has reduced in CLA due to modern farming methods. Cattle feeding techniques have resulting in a reduction of CLA in meat products and milk, although eggs are still a rich source, and the CLA in eggs can resist temperatures used in normal cooking methods such as frying, boiling, etc. It is this CLA deficiency in the diet that has been proposed as one of the reasons for the current obesity problem in the USA. The European diet contains more beneficial fatty acids in general than the American diet. However, there is an increasing body of evidence being accumulated that collectively that suggests almost unequivocally that CLA can help you lose body fat. Unless you are diabetic, there are few if any contra-indications and an increasing number of people are finding it effective not only to lose body fat, but to replace it with hard lean muscle.

Find a Career that Matches your Personality

Are you looking for a career that you can really get excited about? If so, you will want to find one that matches your personality. And although this may sound difficult, it is more than possible if you are dedicated to doing a bit of extra work. Remember, there are hundreds of career paths for you to choose from. Surely, you will be able to find at least one that suits your personality. And in most cases, you should not have any problems finding several that will fit you well. First things first, you need to know what type of personality you have. If you are having a difficult time determining this on your own, you can always ask others for help. Of course, you can get professional help as well through the use of Myers-Briggs personality type profiles. Either way, you need to get a good feel for what type of person you are. Now that you know more about your personality, the next step is to consider the career that will best match this. For instance, if you are an introvert who is also a bit creative, a career as a writer or artist may suit you well. Of course, these are only two options to consider. On the other side of things, those with an outgoing and somewhat loud personality may want to look into a career in either sales or marketing. Any career that will allow you to talk to others will suit you well. Finding a career that matches your personality is not as hard as you may think. Once you know what type of personality profile you fit, you can then move forward searching for and selecting the perfect career.