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To achieve your healthiest body and mind, it’s important to pay attention to your gut, which can be the source of a lot of issues that ale you. Certain diets that are high in sugar, processed foods, and red meat — as well as smoking, stress, and even a lack of sleep — can cause a build-up of inflammation in your body. When this happens, white blood cells flood areas of your body to help heal what they presume is a problem, but without an actual injury, those blood cells have nowhere to go and, as a result of this inflammation, you can get sick.
Anti-inflammatory foods like salmon, walnuts, and broccoli are amazing for your body, but to ensure you’re getting what you need to fight inflammation (even on days when your diet is less than ideal), this is the one anti-inflammatory supplement you should eat right after you wake up for a better day.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
There are several anti-inflammatory supplements that can help reduce inflammation. Some of them, like fish oil, are well known, but can also be more easily obtained and absorbed through foods like cold water fatty fish, nuts, and seeds. Alpha-lipoic acid is a far less popular option, but may prove to be the supplement you need to lower your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and other conditions that can be caused by inflammation.
What Is Alpha-Lipoic Acid?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant that is made naturally in our bodies. Studies have shown that, when taken in supplement form, it can help insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, as well as relieve nerve damage that’s caused by type 2 diabetes or cancer treatment — including tingling and pain in the legs and feet, according to Prevention.
Like other antioxidants (including vitamin C), alpha-lipoic acid protects your cells from damaging free radicals, but it stands out for its ability to reduce blood levels of inflammatory markers like IL-6 and ICAM-1, reports Healthline.
Can You Get Alpha-Lipoic Acid From Foods?
There are a few healthy foods that contain alpha-lipoic acid, albeit in small amounts. To introduce this antioxidant into your diet via food, choose ingredients like spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, yeast, yams, beets, carrots, and rice bran.
Compared to the amount of omega-3 fatty acid you can get from a piece of salmon, the alpha-lipoic acid content in these foods is limited, which is why a supplement is a solid choice.
Doctor's Best Alpha-Lipoic Acid ($9.14)
Dosage Recommendations And Side Effects
The daily recommended dosage for alpha-lipoic acid is 300 to 600 mg. Thankfully, no side effects have been reported, but it’s important to stick to the daily dosage and not overdo it. Anyone with diabetes should check with their doctors prior to starting a supplement regimen and check their blood sugar regularly. If you are pregnant, you should not take alpha-lipoic acid supplements — it’s far safer to get this antioxidant from a diet of healthy foods.
