Know Your Nutrients: Vitamin E

Know Your Nutrients: Vitamin E
by Amanda Hawkinson

Most people know that vitamins are essential for normal growth and nutrition. While they are found in our foods, many of us do not get adequate amounts through diet alone. Vitamin E is one such nutrient.

What is vitamin E?

First used in 1938 to help premature newborns achieve normal growth rates, vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that works well with vitamin C to combat damage to the cells and tissues from free radicals (highly reactive, and short-lived, uncharged molecules). When taken together, vitamin C actually lengthens the time (or reactivate) vitamin E has to neutralize free radicals that can cause inflammation that lead to eventual damage.

Why take vitamin E?

While primarily used for its antioxidant properties that help prevent various cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory diseases, as well as maintain proper structural function of the skeletal and smooth muscle, vitamin E also helps create red blood cells and may even help with cancer prevention. Additional benefits of vitamin E include its ability to aid in the relief of Alzheimer’s symptoms and correct diabetes-related eye damage.

Are you deficient?

According to Dr. Andrew Weil, “Vitamin E deficiency is rare in humans. People who cannot absorb dietary fat or who have rare disorders of fat metabolism cannot absorb vitamin E. Symptoms include greasy stools, chronic diarrhea and an inability to secrete bile.”

Where can you get it?

Vitamin E can be found in various food sources including vegetable oils (wheat germ, sunflower, and safflower oil), avocados, nuts (peanuts, hazelnuts, and almonds), seeds, and green vegetables (especially spinach and broccoli). Further food sources include asparagus, kiwifruit, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, mangoes, tomatoes, and papayas.

For those who are deficient and may not be getting enough vitamin E through dietary choices, incorporating a high-quality, doctor approved nutritional supplement into your daily routine may be beneficial. For example, the Riordan Clinic Supplement Store carries Carlson E-Gems 400 IU for $54.75. Stop by, or visit us at www.riordanclinic.org, to get yours today!

Sources:

1. www.drweil.com
2. www.umm.edu
3. www.whfoods.com

Visit our on-site supplement store or website, www.riordanclinic.org, to purchase this or other supplements, books, and DVDs.