Overweight people are willing to try any means to help lose weight. Diet and exercise require effort, not everyone who is losing weight can tolerate it. Then they start taking various supplements and vitamin-like substances that are sold in large quantities in pharmacies and sports shops. One of these drugs is lipoic acid. What it is, how to take it and whether it promotes weight loss will be discussed below.
What is fatty 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 quantities.
Its deficiency is remedied by using the following foods: mushrooms, dairy products, leafy greens, beef, legumes, bananas. To maintain the thioctocide supply in the body, it must be absorbed in large quantities. It is more convenient to use the acid in the form of drug additives produced in the form of tablets, capsules and solution for injection.
What is it for?
The body actively produces lipoic acid until about 30 years of age. Women older than this age may be deficient in this substance, they begin to appear overweight. The use of thioctocide will preserve the beauty and youth of a woman for a long time, slowing down the aging process. Lipoic acid has the following effects on the body:
- Involves the body in providing energy: it starts recycling its depleted resources. In this way, all nutrients from food are processed as efficiently as possible.
- Forces the body to use glucose for energy and thus helps to lower blood sugar levels.
- Ensures proper function of pancreatic acid. Because insulin waves do not occur, the process of processing other energy sources, such as fat, is activated.
- Prevents premature aging of the body by binding and removing free radicals.
- Normalizes the immune system.
Note!Before using lipoate, make sure that it is compatible with the other medicines you are taking.
How it helps you lose weight
The original use of lipoic acid was to protect and restore liver cells from poisoning with various substances (including alcohol). Later, they started using it to build muscle mass. Currently, thioctocide is also used as a way to lose weight.
When lipoic acid enters the body, processes that normalize metabolism begin. It has a direct impact on the expenditure and removal of fat reserves. Normal metabolism serves as the creator of a slim image. The benefits of ALA for weight loss are as follows:
- the stability of the sugar due to its consumption allows you to control the amount of food consumed;
- by stimulating fat breakdown, lipoic acid for weight loss eliminates the body from fatty acids;
- full absorption of nutrients helps to improve skin tone, prevent brittle hair and nails;
- the feeling of hunger is reduced, which is closed for a long time without harming the body;
- mental and physical activity improves;
- all organs begin to function more efficiently.
You need to know that there are contraindications to the use of lipoic acid, it should not be taken with the following ailments:
- heart failure;
- chronic kidney disease;
- hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism);
- inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract;
- hypersensitivity to the ingredients of the medicine;
- individual intolerance.
Cinnamon and vanilla are used as impurities in some supplements. Thanks to these substances, the drug is very popular among women. After attending classes, they notice a decrease in cravings for sweets, a decrease in weight.
Important!Before using lipoic acid for weight loss, you should consult your doctor: endocrinologist, therapist or nutritionist.
According to the reviews of those who took this drug, they started to feel better, it was a desire to live an active lifestyle. After treatment, the number of blood cells increased, their appearance changed: acne and inflammation disappeared from the face. It is stated that weight loss occurred only in connection with normal nutrition and exercise in the gym.
How to drink
In order not to harm the body, you need to know how to drink lipoic acid right before weight loss. Exceeding the dose can lead to poor health. Lipoate has high chemical activity, it reacts with many substances, therefore, before taking it, you must read the instructions for use carefully.
Dosage
It should be chosen, focusing on the individual's food addiction, enthusiasm for physical activity, as well as health in general. General rules for the use of thioctocides:
- in an acceptable condition, the dose is 25-50 mg daily;
- elderly - 50 mg per day;
- athletes - from 75 to 200 mg;
- for the treatment of diseases - up to 600 mg;
- weight loss women - minimum dose 30-50 mg; for men - 50-75 mg per day (divided into 3 doses).
For intramuscular administration, the dose should not exceed 50 mg daily. Although some sources suggest that positive results can only be achieved with a daily intake of 100-200 mg, it is still necessary to start treatment with small doses. A dose of more than 600 mg daily without exercise can significantly worsen your health.
Note!Lipo acid for weight loss is only effective if you follow a diet, strength training in the gym, as well as physical exercise.
How many days can you drink
To improve the body in general, thioctocide is taken 2-3 weeks several times a year. For weight loss, a longer intake is required, according to the following schedule: 1 month of intake, then a break for 1-2 months, then the course is repeated, and so on. By combining your diet with a healthy diet and physical activity, you can lose 4-6 kg per month.
Recommendation
- Lipoic acid is injected in the morning and evening.
- To avoid gastrointestinal discomfort, use this medicine after a meal.
- Thioctocide inhibits the absorption of calcium, therefore lactic acid products are consumed 4 hours after ingestion.
- Alcohol inhibits the absorption of lipoic acid, and dizziness and nausea may occur when taken at the same time.
- It is not taken until 30 minutes after strength training.
- Before taking thioctocide it is necessary to find out if it is compatible with other medicines used.
The effect of the slimming method will only be if you follow a diet and exercise in the gym. It is best to use a protein diet at this time. If there are fewer carbohydrates, the body begins to use available reserves and the weight decreases. When you consume sweets, pasta, grains, lipoic acid will be used to process the sugar that arrives without affecting the fat.
Overdose
Your doctor should prescribe the dose; it is impossible to change it upwards independently. Many things do not mean good yet. Overdose can be dangerous to health: lead to seizures, bleeding disorders. Due to a sharp drop in blood sugar, there is a possibility of hypoglycaemia; low levels of hormones produced can cause thyroid disease (hypothyroidism).
As a treatment induced vomiting, gastric lavage is used, activated charcoal is prescribed. But even these actions can be useless, as there is no antidote. Therefore, before use, you must read the instructions carefully and avoid overdose.
Side effects
Lipoic acid is usually well tolerated, but sometimes the following unpleasant symptoms can occur:
- stomach pain;
- headache;
- allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes;
- increased pressure;
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- metallic taste in the mouth.
When these symptoms occur, stop the medicine immediately.
Important!When taking thioctic acid it is necessary to stop drinking alcohol as it slows down its absorption.
Using lipoic acid is not a magic bullet to lose extra pounds, but when it comes to diet and exercise, it can help you lose weight. In addition, it normalizes metabolic processes in the body, prevents aging.