Alpha lipoic acid is a fatty acid naturally manufactured by your body; it is also an antioxidant.
Here’s the scientific scoop on ALA:
ALA is a unique antioxidant because it functions in both water and fat (unlike antioxidants vitamin C – only water-soluble; and vitamin E – only fat-soluble).
It also seems to recycle antioxidants such as vitamin C and glutathione (an antioxidant that helps the body eliminate potentially harmful substances after they have been used up), as well as increasing the formation of glutathione.
Here’s the real deal:
ALA also occurs in very small amounts in foods such as:
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Brewer’s yeast
- Brussel sprouts
- Rice bran
- Organ meats such as
– liver (finally a reason to order foie gras)
– kidney
– heart
ALA is also available in capsule form in supplements. Take the supplements on an empty stomach for maximum absorption.