Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant,
protects your cells from oxidation, and neutralizes
unstable free radicals, which can cause damage. This is
done by the vitamin E giving up one of its electrons to
the electron deficient free radical, making it more
stable. While Vitamin E performs its antioxidant
functions, it also protects the other antioxidants from
being oxidized. This
vitamin is an antioxidant that improves circulation and
is necessary for tissue repair. It promotes healing and
reduces scarring from wounds. Vitamin E promotes
healthy skin and prevents cell damage and stretch marks.
This antioxidant capability is then also
great in helping to prevent degenerative diseases -
including heart disease, strokes, arthritis, senility,
diabetes and cancer. It also assists in fighting heart
disease and cancers and is essential for red blood
cells, helps with cellular respiration and protects the
body from pollution - especially the lungs. Vitamin E is
also useful in preventing blood clots from forming and
promotes fertility, reduces and/or prevents hot flushes
in menopause. An increase in stamina and endurance is
also attributed to Vitamin E.
Vitamin E is also used topically to
great effect for skin treatments - in helping the skin
look younger, promoting healing and cutting down the
risk of scar tissue forming. Used on the skin it is also
reported to help with eczema, psoriasis, dry itchy
rashes, skin ulcers cold sores, stretch marks and
shingles.
Deficiency of Vitamin E is not common,
and the symptoms not very clear cut, but may include
fatigue, inflamed varicose veins, wounds healing slowly,
premature aging and sub-fertility. When Vitamin E is in
short supply symptoms may include acne, anemia, muscle
disease, dementia, cancers, gallstones, shortened red
blood cell life span, spontaneous abortion
(miscarriage), and uterine degeneration.
The dosage underneath is the Recommended
Dietary Allowance (RDA), but be aware that this dosage
is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off
serious deficiency of this particular nutrient. In the
therapeutic use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually
increased considerably, but the toxicity level must be
kept in mind.
Males 300 iu (10 mg) per day and females
8 mg per day
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Toxicity And Symptoms Of High
Intake
Toxicity is not easily reached. High
intakes may induce diarrhea, nausea or abdominal wind.
People on anticoagulant medication should not take more
than 1,200 iu per day.
Take Vitamin E with the range of
antioxidants - that being vitamin C, beta-carotene and
selenium. Vitamin B group vitamins as well as inositol
and manganese is also indicated.
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When More May Be Required
When your diet is high in refined
carbohydrates, fried foods and fat, or you are taking a
birth control pill or hormone replacement therapy, then
a supplement of Vitamin E might be called for. People
suffering from pre-menstrual cramps, menopausal hot
flushes, after a stroke or suffering from a heart
disease might benefit from Vitamin E. It might also be
beneficial to relieve painful or swollen joints, if you
are exposed to pollution (that is about all of us),
suffer from poor circulation or from Dupuytren's
disease, which is a thickening of the ligaments in the
hands.
Vitamin E is lost in food processing
which includes milling, cooking, freezing, long storage
periods and when exposed to air.
Vitamin E should not be taken together
with inorganic iron supplements as it may destroy the
vitamin, while organic iron, such as ferrous gluconate
and ferrous fumarate does not affect the vitamin.
When buying a supplement you often see
"d-alpha-tocopherol" on the list of ingredients - that
means that the Vitamin E is from natural sources,
whereas "dl-alpha-tocopherol" will indicate that it is
from synthetic origin. As such the origin of the vitamin
does not influence the efficiency thereof.
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Food Sources Of Vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in nuts, oils,
vegetables, sunflower seeds, whole grains, spinach,
oils, seeds, wheat oils, asparagus, avocado, beef,
seafood, apples, carrots, celery etc .
