Overweight people are ready to try all ways to help lose weight. Diets and exercise require a lot of effort, and not everyone who loses weight can stand it. Then they start taking various supplements and vitamins, which are sold in large quantities in pharmacies and sports stores. One of these drugs is lipoic acid. What it is, how to take it and whether it helps to lose weight will be discussed below.
What is lipoic acid
Lipoic acid has many names: thioctic acid, thioctoside, vitamin N, lipoat, ALA. It is considered a substance like a vitamin with antioxidant properties. Lipoic acid is produced by the body, but in small amounts.
Its deficiency is compensated by the use of the following foods: mushrooms, dairy products, leafy greens, beef, legumes, bananas. Too much must be absorbed to maintain the body's supply of thioctoside. It is more appropriate to use the acid in the form of pharmaceutical supplements produced in the form of tablets, capsules and solution for injection.
What is this for
The body actively produces lipoic acid until about 30 years of age. Women over this age may be deficient in this substance, they begin to look overweight. The use of thioctoside will preserve a woman's beauty and youth for a long time, slows down the aging process. Lipoic acid has the following effects on the body:
- Participates in providing the body with energy: begins to recycle the sources it consumes. Thus, all nutrients from food are processed as efficiently as possible.
- It forces the body to use glucose for energy, thus helping to lower blood sugar levels.
- Ensures proper functioning of pancreatic acidDue to the lack of insulin increase, the processing of other energy sources, such as fats, is activated.
- Prevents premature aging of the body by binding and eliminating free radicals.
- Normalizes the immune system
Note!Before using lipoate, you should make sure that it is compatible with other medications you use.
How it helps to lose weight
The first use of lipoic acid was to protect and restore liver cells from poisoning by various substances (including alcohol). Then they started using it to build muscle mass. Currently, thioctocid is also used as a means to lose weight.
When lipoic acid enters the body, the processes that normalize metabolism begin. This has a direct impact on the consumption and extraction of oil reserves. A normal metabolism serves as the creator of a slim figure. The benefits of ALA for weight loss are:
- Stabilization of sugar intake allows you to control the amount of food consumed;
- lipoic acid cleanses the body of fat deposits to lose weight by stimulating the breakdown of fat;
- full absorption of nutrients helps to improve skin tone, prevent brittleness of hair and nails;
- the feeling of hunger is reduced, which is blocked for a long time without harming the body;
- mental and physical activity improves;
- all organs begin to function more efficiently.
You should know that there are contraindications to the use of lipoic acid, it should not be taken with the following diseases:
- heart problem;
- chronic kidney disease;
- thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism);
- inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract;
- hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
- individual intolerance.
Some food additives use cinnamon and vanilla as impurities. Thanks to these substances, the drug is very popular among women. After the course, they note that their interest in confectionery has decreased and their weight has decreased.
It is important!Before using lipoic acid to lose weight, you should consult a doctor: endocrinologist, therapist or nutritionist.
According to those who took the drug, they began to feel better, had a desire to lead an active lifestyle. After the therapy, a lot of blood count improved, changed its appearance: acne and inflammation disappeared from the face. It is noted that the weight loss occurred only in conjunction with nutrition in the gym and the normalization of sports.
How to drink
To avoid harm to the body, you need to know how to properly drink lipoic acid to lose weight. Overdose can lead to poor health. Lipoate has a high chemical activity, reacts with many substances, so you should carefully read the instructions for use before taking it.
Dose
It should be selected taking into account the person's food dependence, intensity of physical activity, as well as general health. General guidelines for the use of thioctoside:
- In satisfactory condition, the prophylactic dose is 25-50 mg per day;
- elderly people - 50 mg per day;
- athletes - 75 to 200 mg;
- for the treatment of diseases - up to 600 mg;
- women who have lost weight - the minimum dose is 30-50 mg; for men - 50-75 mg per day (divided into 3 doses).
With intramuscular injection of the acid, the portion should not exceed 50 mg per day. Although some sources state that it is possible to achieve positive results with only 100-200 mg per day, it is still necessary to start treatment with small doses. Doses of more than 600 mg per day without physical activity can dramatically worsen health.
Note!To lose weight, lipoic acid is effective only if you follow a diet, strength training in the gym, as well as physical activity.
How many days can you drink?
Thioctocide is taken several times a year for 2-3 weeks to improve the overall condition of the body. To lose weight requires a longer intake according to the following scheme: 1 month intake, then a break of 1-2 months, then the course is repeated, and so on. You can lose 4-6 kg per month by combining medication with a balanced diet and physical activity.
Recommendations
- Lipoic acid is injected in the morning and evening.
- Use the drug after meals to avoid discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Thioctocid inhibits the absorption of calcium, so lactic acid products are consumed 4 hours after ingestion.
- Alcohol inhibits the absorption of lipoic acid, in addition, dizziness and nausea may appear when taken at the same time.
- The drug is taken no later than 30 minutes after strength training.
- Before taking thioctoside, it is necessary to find out whether it is compatible with other drugs used.
The effect of the weight loss procedure will be only if you follow a diet and exercise in the gym. In this case, the best way to use protein foods. When there are fewer carbohydrates, the body begins to use available reserves and loses weight. When confectionery, pasta, grains, lipoic acid are consumed, the sugars obtained will be used to process them without affecting fats.
Overdose
Dosage should be determined by a physician, it is impossible to change upwards independently. Many things are not good yet. An overdose can be dangerous to health: it causes seizures and bleeding disorders. There is a possibility of hypoglycemic coma due to a sharp drop in blood sugar, low levels of hormones produced can lead to thyroid disease (hypothyroidism).
Treatment includes vomiting, gastric lavage, and activated charcoal. But even these manipulations can be useless, because there is no antidote. Therefore, you should read the instructions carefully before use and avoid overdose.
Side effects
Lipoic acid is usually well tolerated, but sometimes the following unpleasant symptoms can occur:
- stomach pain;
- Headache;
- allergic reaction in the form of skin rash;
- increased pressure;
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- metallic taste in the mouth.
When these symptoms appear, the drug should be stopped immediately.
It is important!When taking thioctic acid, it is necessary to stop drinking alcohol, because it slows down its absorption.
The use of lipoic acid is not a panacea for losing extra pounds, but can help you lose weight with diet and exercise. In addition, it normalizes metabolic processes in the body and prevents aging.