How to prevent dementia? Take this natural remedy…
One of the biggest problems of the last decades of older people is the enormous increase in people who get dementia. A key role in preventing dementia will be to practice a healthy lifestyle and introduce foods or dietary supplements that can significantly improve your health. Here a special role is played by antioxidants,special molecules that protect us from cell damage.
Unfortunately, we have less and less of these antioxidants in the body as we age, and because of this comes a large number of diseases. Chances are you’ve heard a lot about the many benefits of a variety of antioxidants and high-antioxidant foods fighting inflammation, helping beat cancer, and morebut have you ever wondered what exactly antioxidants are and how they work in the body?
WHAT IS ALPHA LIPOIC ACID?
Alpha lipoic acid – one type of antioxidant – is a type of compound found in plant foods that we usually eat. It helps cleanse free radicals and slows down the aging process – but perhaps its most famous use in the natural treatment of diabetes. People make a small amount of ALA themselves, although the concentration in our bloodstream increases considerably when we eat a healthy diet.
It naturally abounds in foods like green vegetables, potatoes and certain types of yeast – plus it can be made artificially in the laboratory and taken as an oral anti-inflammatory supplement. Alpha lipoic acid (also called lipoic acid or thioctic acid) is an organosulfuric compound found in the body and synthesized by plants and animals. It is present in every cell within the body and helps convert glucose into the “fuel” that the body uses for energy.
The most valuable role of ALA in the body is to combat the effects of free radicals, which are dangerous by-products of the chemical reaction that occur during the oxidation process. Within our cells, ALA is converted to dihydrolipoic acid, which has protective effects over normal cellular reactions, such as those involved in metabolic functions and neuronal signaling. Like other antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid can help slow cellular damage that is one of the underlying causes of the disease.
It also works in the body to restore essential levels of vitamins, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, and acts as a cofactor for several important mitochondrial enzymes. In addition, it helps the body digest and use carbohydrate molecules. Something that makes ALA unique is that it is water-soluble and fat-soluble, unlike othernutrients (such as Vitamin B or Vitamins A, C, D or E). This means that it can be properly absorbed despite the types of food you eat, and it can be used in almost all parts of the body.
For more information on the impact of alpha-lipoic acid on brain health, see this video!