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Solgar Cinnamon Alpha-Lipoic
Acid Tabs
Suitable for Vegans
Following information taken from
“The X Factor Diet” by Leslie Kenton
“Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is unique. An
antioxidant also found in foods like liver and yeast, it is now
increasingly taken in therapeutic doses ranging from 100-600mg a
day. It is a sulphur-containing, vitamin-like substance needed in
the body’s production of energy at a cellular level. It has a proven
ability to lower chronically high levels of insulin and glucose.
Researchers using it increasingly believe that it may be possible to
use ALA to prevent or reverse damage caused by high levels of
insulin and glucose in the body. Generally speaking, people with
hyperinsulinaemia or diabetes have inadequate levels of this
substance in their bodies.
ALA is especially important in restoring and
preventing nerve damage. It is also an excellent anti-ageing
supplement, and appears to be capable of recycling vitamin E and
vitamin A in the body after they have been used up in free radical
reactions. Many experts in functional medicine believe not only that
it helps improve glucose metabolism, restore liver and brain health
and prevent nerve disorders, but that it can also reduce the
incidence of glaucoma and protect the body against heavy metals and
radiation damage.”
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a long history of use
dating back to biblical times as a herbal remedy for digestive
complaints, ranging from loss of appetite, dyspeptic symptoms, such
as bloating and flatulence, to fungal and bacterial infections of
the digestive tract.
More recently researchers have
discovered cinnamon's blood sugar balancing effects.
Effects on blood sugar control
Evidence has been mounting in recent
years concerning cinnamon's effects on maintaining a healthy blood
sugar balance. In one study cinnamon was noted to reduce fasting
blood sugar levels as well as triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in
individuals with compromised blood sugar control. Another study
confirmed that cinnamon had moderate effects in reducing fasting
blood sugar levels in patients with poor glycaemic control. Some
researchers believe that these effects may stem from cinnamon's
ability to enhance insulin sensitivity which in turn may improve
glucose tolerance. This theory is based on the observation that
cinnamon extract increases phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in
the insulin signalling pathway, thus potentiating insulin action.
Moreover, cinnamon's effects may not
only be confined to people with existing blood sugar problems. In a
recent trial the effects of cinnamon were assessed on the
postprandial glucose response and rate of gastric emptying in
healthy subjects. The results showed that cinnamon significantly
delayed gastric emptying and lowered postprandial glucose response,
compared to placebo. That is, it would seem that cinnamon may be of
value for supporting glucose metabolism in healthy individuals as
well.
Antimicrobial effects
Traditionally cinnamon has been used
for tackling symptoms of gut infections owing to the belief that
cinnamon has antimicrobial effects and indeed recent studies support
this. Researchers in Korea have demonstrated that the growth of
E.coli cells treated with cinnamaldehyde was dramatically decreased
after twelve hours of incubation. Cinnaldehyde has also been shown
to inhibit the growth of other pathogenic organisms such as Vibrio
cholerae, Salmonella typhymurium and yeasts including Candida
albicans.
Other effects
A pilot study on 15 women with
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) showed that treatment with
cinnamon for eight weeks significantly reduced insulin resistance.
Further studies are warranted to determine whether these results can
be replicated in larger groups of individuals.
Species of cinnamon
There are different species of the
spice cinnamon, two of the most renowned being Cinnamomum cassia and
Cinnamomum zeylanicum, both of which are commonly used as culinary
ingredients. Cinnamomum cassia originates from the bark of a small
evergreen tree that is indigenous to China and surrounding areas; it
is the form of cinnamon that has been investigated extensively in
recent times and is the species under review here.
Directions for Use: As a food supplement for Adults, one (1)
tablet of Solgar Cinnamon Alpha-Lipoic Acid two or four times daily,
preferably at mealtime, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.
One (1) tablet provides:
Cinnamon Extract (Cinnamomum
cassia) {bark} 350mg
Alpha Lipoic Acid (as
thioctic acid) 150mg
Tableted with these
natural ingredients: Bulking Agent: microcrystalline cellulose
Cellulose Gum Anti-caking Agents: Vegetable Magnesium Stearate,
silicon dioxide Glazing Agent: Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose
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