Overweight people are ready to try all the ways to help lose weight. Diets and workouts require effort, not everyone who loses weight can handle it. They then start taking various food supplements and vitamin-like substances, which are sold in large quantities in pharmacies and sports shops. One of these drugs is lipoic acid. What it is, how to use it and whether it contributes to weight loss will be discussed below.
What is lipoic acid
Lipoic acid has many names: thioctic acid, thioctocide, vitamin N, lipoate, ALA. It is considered a vitamin-like substance with antioxidant properties. Lipoic acid is produced by the body, but in small amounts.
Its deficiency is compensated by the following foods: mushrooms, dairy products, greens, beef, legumes, bananas. In order to maintain thioctocide stores in the body, it must be absorbed in large quantities. It is more appropriate to use the acid as a pharmaceutical additive in the form of tablets, capsules and solutions for injection.
Who is it for?
The body is actively producing lipoic acid until it is about 30 years old. Women older than this age may be deficient in this substance and begin to become overweight. The use of thioctocide will preserve a woman's beauty and youth for a long time and slow down the aging process. Lipoic acid has the following effects on the body:
- Participates in the supply of energy to the body: begins to recycle used sources. So all the nutrients from the food are processed as efficiently as possible.
- Forces the body to use glucose for energy, thus helping to lower blood sugar.
- Ensures proper functioning of pancreatic acid. The absence of insulin spikes activates the processing of other energy sources, such as fat.
- Prevents premature aging of the body by binding and removing free radicals.
- Normalizes the immune system.
Note!Before using lipoate, you must make sure that it is compatible with the other medicines you are taking.
How It Helps To Lose Weight
Initially, lipoic acid was used to protect and restore liver cells from poisoning by various substances (including alcohol). They later started using it to build muscle mass. Thioctocide is also currently used as a weight loss agent.
Once lipoic acid enters the body, processes begin to normalize metabolism. This directly affects the depletion and elimination of fat stores. Normal metabolism is the creator of a lean figure. The benefits of ALA for weight loss are:
- the stabilization of sugar as a result of its consumption makes it possible to control the amount of food consumed;
- by promoting the breakdown of fat, lipoic acid for weight loss removes fat from the body;
- full absorption of nutrients helps to improve skin color, avoid brittle hair and nails;
- decreases the feeling of hunger, 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 be aware that there are contraindications to the use of lipoic acid, it should not be used in the following conditions:
- heart failure;
- chronic kidney disease;
- thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism);
- inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract;
- hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
- individual intolerance.
Cinnamon and vanilla are used as impurities in some dietary supplements. Because of these substances, the drug is very popular among women. After listening to the course, they notice a decrease in cravings for confectionery and a decrease in weight.
Important!Before using lipoic acid for weight loss, you should consult a doctor: an endocrinologist, a therapist, or a nutritionist.
According to reviews of users of this drug, they began to feel better, developed a desire to live an active lifestyle. After treatment, many had improved blood counts and a change in appearance: acne and inflammation disappeared from the face. It is noted that weight loss occurred only after normalization of diet and exercise in the gym.
How to drink
To avoid harm to the body, you need to know how to drink lipoic acid properly to lose weight. Exceeding the dose may be detrimental to health. Lipoates have a high chemical activity and react with many substances, so you should carefully read the instructions for use before use.
Dosage
It should be selected taking into account a person's dependence on food, the intensity of physical activity, as well as the state of health in general. General rules for the use of thioctocide:
- in a satisfactory condition, the prophylactic dose is 25-50 mg per day;
- the elderly - 50 mg per day;
- athletes - from 75 to 200 mg;
- for the treatment of diseases - up to 600 mg;
- women who lose weight - a minimum dose of 30-50 mg; for men - 50-75 mg per day (divided into 3 doses).
After intramuscular administration, the dose should not exceed 50 mg per day. Although some sources suggest that positive results can only be obtained with 100-200 mg daily, treatment should still be started at low doses. Doses higher than 600 mg daily without physical activity can significantly worsen your health.
Note!Lipoic acid is effective for weight loss only through diet, strength training, as well as physical activity.
How many days can you drink
For general improvement, thioctocide is used several times a year for 2-3 weeks. To lose weight, you need to take longer, according to the following scheme: 1 month, then take a break for 1-2 months, then repeat the course and so on. By combining the use of the drug with a balanced diet and physical activity, you can lose 4-6 kg per month.
Recommendations
- Lipoic acid is injected in the morning and evening.
- To avoid discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract, take the medicine after a meal.
- Thioctocide inhibits calcium absorption, so lactic acid products are consumed 4 hours after ingestion.
- Alcohol blocks the absorption of lipoic acid, and dizziness and nausea may occur when taken together.
- The drug is used no earlier than 30 minutes after strength training.
- Thioctocide should be evaluated for compatibility with other medicinal products before administration.
The effect of the slimming procedure will only be if you follow a diet and exercise in the gym. It is currently best to eat protein foods. If there are fewer carbohydrates, the body begins to deplete its available reserves, losing weight. When consuming confectionery, pasta, grains, lipoic acid will be used to process the resulting sugar without damaging the fat.
Overdose
The dose should be prescribed by a doctor and cannot be adjusted upwards on your own. Much doesn’t mean well yet. Overdose can be dangerous to health: cause seizures, bleeding disorders. A sudden drop in blood sugar can lead to a hypoglycaemic coma, and low levels of the hormone produced can provoke thyroid disease (hypothyroidism).
As a treatment, vomiting is caused, the stomach is washed, and activated charcoal is given. However, even these manipulations can be useless because there is no antidote. Therefore, you must read the instructions carefully before use and avoid overdose.
Side effects
Lipoic acid is generally well tolerated, but the following unpleasant symptoms may occasionally occur:
- stomach ache;
- headache;
- allergic reaction in the form of skin rash;
- increased pressure;
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- metallic taste in the mouth.
When these symptoms occur, the drug should be discontinued immediately.
Important!When taking thioctic acid, it is necessary to stop drinking alcohol as it slows down its absorption.
The use of lipoic acid is not a panacea for losing extra pounds, but along with diet and exercise it can help you lose weight. In addition, it normalizes metabolic processes in the body, prevents aging.