It's soluble in both water and fat — battling free radicals in everything from blood to cholesterol — but ALA really shines when taking on diabetes. The supplement was a hot topic few years ago, but with 14 million (diagonosed) diabetic Americans, its antioxidant abilities deserve to be revisited.

It works like this: ALA improves the insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics (according to Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications). And with both types of diabetes, ALA reduces the amount of damage done by free radicals by decreasing “oxidative stress”, says Cardiovascular Diabetology. The journal also emphasizes ALA's role in reducing peripheral neuropathy or the nerve damage that affects many diabetics.

Understanding whether a vitamin or mineral is most effective when ingested through food or supplements is key. Though it is found in broccoli, spinach and liver, ALA is most beneficial when taken as a nutritional supplement.

For more on ALA, check out Berkeley Wellness.

[via Delicious Living Magazine]

(Photo from Nature’s Way)