When it comes to the health status of millions of Americans, there is definitely room for improvement.  And, that’s putting it mildly.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, a stunning two out of three adults in the United States are currently either overweight or obese.  In addition, the American Heart Association reports that over 34 percent of American adults live with metabolic syndrome – a cluster of undesirable conditions that includes high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and excessive abdominal fat.  Unfortunately, this common syndrome greatly increases the chance of developing potentially life-threatening conditions such as stroke, heart attack, and type 2 diabetes. Some researchers believe that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) can support metabolic health, thereby helping to protect against metabolic syndrome and the chronic diseases that may accompany it.  In a recent scientific review published in Biomolecules, the authors credit ALA with “promising effects” and “clinically valuable properties.”  Let’s …