Vitamin E: The Wonder Supplement
Vitamin E is a fat soluble compound. As such, it is carried in the blood by lipoproteins and stored mainly in fat tissue. When fat is put on the move, Vitamin E is released into circulation.
Vitamin E is a wonder supplement that can aid in providing relief from many health conditions. Supplementation has been popular for a very long time.
A huge number of studies have been conducted on this Vitamin to verify it’s ability to provide relief.
Here’s what the research has shown:
- Vitamin E can protect against heart disease – it decreases cholesterol damage to artery walls, inhibits excessive clotting of platelets and decreases antioxidant effects that contribute to heart disease.
- Helps prevent Alzheimer’s – it slows down the progression of the disease and can be used in conjunction with Alzheimer’s medication.
- Vitamin E and Cancer – it aids in cancer recovery by providing important nutritional assistance to aid in energy absorption. One long term research project, the Epic study, even found that it may help to reduce the risk of cancer by 48%.
- Is a great aid to women with fibrocystic breast disease.
- Slows down the progression of cataracts and macular degeneration
- Improves sperm quality, production and motility
- Supports immune system function.
- Contributes to healthy skin
In addition to the above Vitamin E:
Vitamin E is useful to help patients with Hepatitis C, Impaired Liver Function, Asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, slow down the effects of Parkinson’s Disease, increase glucose sensitivity in Diabetics, and decreases the amount of oxidative free radicals in people who exercise regularly. It even help with PMS.
It’s clear then that this Vitamin plays a crucial role in the prevention and management of many health conditions.
Deficiency
Newborn babies are usually low in Vitamin E due to limited transfer across the placenta. Deficiency in adults may occur syndromes associated with fat malabsorption. these include:
- Celiac disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Post-Gastrectonomy Syndrome
- Sickle Cell Anaemia
Antioxidant Properties of Vitamin E:
Without oxygen you would die. Yet this same oxygen is toxic in the long term. Inhaling oxygen naturally produces harmful free radicals as a consequence of normal metabolism.
Free radicals are unstable molecules or fragments of molecules that can cause gradual damage to body cells.These free radicals are made much less harmful by being neutralised by antioxidants produced by the body and those eaten in the diet.
A number of studies have shown a decrease in free radical damage in physically active people who take Vitamin E supplementation. Vitamin E seems to be most beneficial in this regard for people who are involved in short, intense bursts of anaerobic exercise, such as weight training.
Dosage
A daily supplement of 10 to 15 mg of Vitamin E will cover the daily recommended dosage of this vitamin for most countries. However, supplementation appears safe at doses of 200mg or less daily. Check with your medical practitioner for doses correct for you.
Food sources
The best natural food sources of Vitamin E are:
- green, leafy vegetables
- nuts and seeds
- oils
- avocado
- almonds
- dairy products
- seeds
- eggs
- whole grains
Vitamin E: Key Facts
- An effective antioxidant
- Contributes to healthy heart and immune system
- Weight trainers need it more than others
- Supplement with 15 mg daily or as recommended by your medical practitioner