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There is no doubt that alpha lipoic acid, ALA is very beneficial. It is one omega 3 nutrient. I would never say don't include it in a healthy diet. Most western diets miss the proper balance between ALA and the other two omega 3s. They are docosahexaenoic acid and eicosahexaenoic acid, EPA and DHA. Supplemental doses of alpha-lipoic acid are hundreds of times higher than the amounts that can be obtained from food. Good food sources of alpha-lipoic acid include spinach, broccoli, beef, yeast (particularly Brewer's yeast), and certain organ meats (such as the kidney and heart) .The typical imbalance is 20-ALA to 1 EPA/DHA. a good balance is 4 ALA to 1 EPA/DHA. EPA/DHA is only found in any significant quantities from deep cold water ocean fish, or supplements made from those fish. I don't and won't eat nearly enough fish to get the essential omega 3s EPA and DHA so I use a supplement. I have notice that there are huge differences between omega 3 supplements. Some that use flax seed are primarily just ALA. Those that are fish based vary widely in the EPA/DHA content. I have found that the high priced omega 3 supplements from health food stores usually have much lower quantities of EPA/DHA per 1000 mg caps than I can find in other sources.

If you are not getting enough ALA by all means do so. On the other hand, don't ignore you equally important need for the other two omega 3s EPA and DHA which have probably more health benefits than ALA..

Toma
www.NutriCoach.net

Recommends this source for the 3 Omegas