posted May 09, 2000 05:38 PM         

Don't take the CLA for the same reason as ALA. CLA is composed of omega fatty acids. ALA is derived from something different. The names sound the same but they're not.

I like the Jarrow brand of ALA that I get at http://www.dpsnutrition.com
it's about 20 bucks and lasts a month. ALA may seem expensive, but it is well worth it. You can also take it with your post workout shake (creatine, protein, glutamine, carbs and/or whatever you put in there) to help drive the nutrients into your muscles. I can feel a big difference when I take 300 mg after a workout.

The reason the bottle tells you to take 50 mg per day is that this is the recommended dose if you only want to take it as an antioxidant. However, if you want it to do what it is best at doing then you need to bump up the dose to 600 mg per day. By the way, here's a quick list of things that ALA does:
1)strong antioxidant
2)if your body is low in vitamin C or vitamin E ALA will help produce those vitamins.
3)lowers your blood sugar by way of mimicking the action of insulin (it carries blood sugar to muscles, not to fat areas)
4)it binds to toxic heavy metals (like the ones associated with chronic diseases)in your body and carries them out
5)it speeds recovery time after workouts.

I've been using it for several months now. It has helped me maintain my current fat levels and keep my blood sugar stabilized. A couple of things first though, don't take it if you are diabetic without telling your doctor first. Also, you want to be sure to take the ALA WITH MEALS containing carbs, since otherwise could lower your blood sugar and cause some problems.

Try that web address and then look over at the left margin that lists all the companies. Then scroll down until you see the brand Jarrow. Click on it and it will tell you about it.

posted May 11, 2000 08:35 PM            

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posted May 12, 2000 10:04 AM            

Remember that, very often, recommended doages are purposefully low because companies know people will take much more anyway, and it's good protection against litigation.

If you think ALA is too expensive, consider the fact that it:

Modulates insulin and glucagon activity
Regulates blood and intramuscular sugars
Recycles gluthinione
Repartions nutrients
Detoxifies the liver
Acts as an antioxidant
Encourages ketosis in the metabolically resistant

posted May 28, 2000 01:53 PM         

"2)if your body is low in vitamin C or vitamin E ALA will help produce those vitamins."

The concept of a vitamin is that the body cannot synthesize it, therefore must be received through the diet. I can see the idea that ALA may "spare" these two vitamins, but make them? I am interested.

"3)lowers your blood sugar by way of mimicking the action of insulin (it carries blood sugar to muscles, not to fat areas)"

I have seen the studies on ALA's glucose lowering effects and it has been shown to increase non-insulin dependant glucose transporters, but I have seen no studies showing preference to skeletal muscle over adipocytes. I would assume that this occurs in both tissue types.