Alpha Lipoic Acid - A Skin Vitamin

Alpha Lipoic Acid - The Ultimate Skin Vitmain

As a Health Advisor the one question I was often asked is - “what vitamins do I need for healthy skin?” or "What vitamins should I take for less wrinkles?"

One of the most important vitamins for skin is Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). It’s a potent antioxidant that helps other anti-oxidants, such as vitamins C and E fight free radicals and stay in the body longer, which gives skin cells extra protection.

In addition, most it’s the only fat soluble and water soluble vitamin – this means it reaches ALL the cells in the body.

What's The Difference Between Fat Soluble Vitamins and Water Soluble Vitamins?

Fat soluble vitamins are absorbed throught the inestinal track and are stored in body. Water soluble vitamins dissolve easily in water and leave the body after a few hours.

So the perfect vitamin is one that does both -- thereby offering the benefits of all vitamins.

However, the exciting part, is the role it plays in anti-aging skin care. Because as we age, our cells begin to lose their ability to regenerate as effectively as when we are young.

So How Does ALA Work?

It helps reduce glycation – which is essential in preventing wrinkles.

But What Is Glycation - It is a chemical reaction where the sugar in your bloodstream bonds to the protein in your tissues. Glycation occurs throughout your body, including your skin, in which case it creates undesirable changes to collagen – and this means wrinkles!

Want To Know More About Glycation?

Glycation happens when sugar molecules attach themselves to collagen fibers. This sets off a series of chemical reactions that eventually result in cross-linking of collage molecules and this causes the loss of skin elasticity.......

An easier way to understand glycation - is to picture what a chicken looks like after it’s been cooked in an oven. The skin is crunchy, hard and brown – the chemical reaction that caused the stiffening and browning of the chicken skin is called glycation. Good for a tasty chicken, but not for our skin!!

What Can You Do

Take ALA. - According to Dr. Perricone a board certified clinical and research dermatologist --

“Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) has long been one of my favorite nutritional supplements. Known as the “universal” antioxidant because of its ability to reach all portions of the cell, ALA is also a super star glycation fighter. ALA actually helps curtail glycation and enhances the transfer of blood sugar into the cells by stimulating glucose uptake. ALA reduces the potential for glycation and blunts its effects ….”

ALA is offered by several vitamin companies like New Chapter Vitamins or Swanson's Vitamins -- who has the best price for this supplement.

Low Glycemic Index

Reduce Intake of High Glycemic Foods - Try to avoid or at least reduce high glycemic (high sugar, simple carbohydrates) foods – which rapidly convert to sugar in the bloodstream.

Want more information on the Glycemic Index of foods? Log onto Glycemic Index to learn which carbs have the lowest index and won’t harm your health and beauty.

Glycation -- It Goes Beyond Preventing Wrinkles

Remember, it’s not just wrinkled, sagging skin you have to contend with............glycation also causes damage to other vital organs, including your kidneys, lungs, and brain. So there are plenty of good healthy reasons to reduce glycation with a low glycemic diet and supplement with this important vitamin

Vitamin Dosage

It’s best to follow the directions on the manufactures bottle, however, the general dose ranges from 50 mg to 300 mg daily. Make sure to take it with food, as it could cause stomach upset if taken on empty stomach.