Post: #1

So I have been taking ALA for a while. Usually 30 minutes before I eat, I'll take some ALA and Cinnamon.

Now I have been reading for lately about it and there is some claim that the basic ALA version is 50 percent R and 50 percent S. The effective portion is the R.

However, there is some small info out there saying that the S may actually weaken the effectiveness of the R.

Anyone using R ALA or Na-R-ALA?

And there was something I read about thiamine, too much ALA may be bad if you have a thiamine deficiency.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Post: #2

I use R ALA.

Post: #3

(04-05-2017 12:13 PM)CaptainChardonnay Wrote:  I use R ALA.

Can you share your experience? Why you chose R ALA? Did you use ALA before you tried R ALA?

Thanks.

Post: #4

Did a little research on ALA as I was considering adding it to my supplement stack. Here's my take for what its worth ... you may already know this but I thought it wouldn't do any harm.

There are 4 types of ALA (that I know of).

1) Regular ALA - of which (as you correctly stated) we can only process R- and that S- may actually be detrimental by reducing the amount of R- absorbed.

2) R-ALA - which is better since it is 100% R. However, tests appear to show that even this is not as effective as a "stabilized" salt based formulation of LA (which I will come to in a moment).

3) Slow Release ALA - ALA has a short half life so the theory here is that a slow release version ought to be more beneficial. But there is evidence to the contrary which states that is is in fact the high dose "one shot" type that helps to reset cells.

4) Bio enhanced R-LA (aka Na-R-ALA) - To cut a long story short it appears to be the case that combining with sodium actually creates a stablized version with the key benefit of 250% more R- getting into the bloodstream. A single 100mg capsule in biological terms is the equivalent of the more expensive 600mg capsule of regular ALA.

In terms of bang for your bucks I would go for Na-R-ALA.

If you're interested this is the one I would recommend: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I4C19G/ref...zerot0d-20

One other tip would be to try taking it on an empty stomach (as long as you can tolerate it) preferably a few hours before before or after meals (as food will compete with it in terms of absorption).

From a personal point of view I do not suffer from any insulin related issues but am taking Na-R-ALA to aid my efforts in weight loss.

Post: #5

I usually pop the ALA about 30 mins before eating. Better to take it even sooner for best effect?

How much are you taking?

Post: #6

I don't think it's worth the money.

Post: #7

Truthfully, I don't think supplements like these can make more than half a percent of difference in your health or physique unless you have a legitimate deficiency identified by blood work.

I know ALA is hot shit right now, and seems credible, but it's just another unnecessary expense. People have been getting in great shape for years without ALA, ginger, green tea, coconut oil, acv, maca root, horny goat weed, CoQ10, centrum silver, creatine ethyl ester, super greens, or anything else that's hot shit.

Post: #8

I tend to have a late breakfast so I take 100 mg of Na-RALA first thing in the morning and follow this up a couple of hours after my last meal of the day (so 200 mg in total). Not sure whether taking it as early as possible gives a greater benefit but this is just my routine.

Steelex - Point taken about supplements. My attitude is every little bit helps. As long as I'm not doing myself any harm then I'll take those 0.5% gains wherever I can find them.

Post: #9

As for deficiency being caused by taking some supplements - you should always take a good high potency multi without iron in addition to everything you take aside from it.

https://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-...-240-sgels

cheapest of the best