Kirsty's Vitality

Benefits of Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

Like vitamin D, vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin which is sometimes also known as d-alpha tocopheryl - one of the essential nutrients that we need to survive, you need to get lots of vitamin E foods in order to reap the many benefits vitamin E has to offer. In order for our bodies to maintain the correct levels of vitamin E, we also need to make sure that we have enough zinc in our diets. Organic sources of iron such as ferrous gluconate will not harm vitamin E, but inorganic forms, such as ferrous sulphate, will destroy vitamin E and render it useless.

So what are the benefits of Vitamin E?

 
The main benefits of Vitamin E are its many valuable antioxidant properties, and as such, is an essential element in any healthy diet. Vitamin E helps our bodies in a number of ways, including:
 
- The improvement of circulation
- Tissue repair
- Alleviating premenstrual syndrome
- Healthy blood clotting
- Reducing scarring
- Lowering blood pressure
- Helps in the prevention of cataracts
- Improved athletic performance
- Alleviates leg cramps
- Strengthens and maintains nerves, muscles and capillary walls
- Helps skin and hair to maintain a good condition

Vitamin E - why is it essential?

In addition to all of the benefits of vitamin E outlined above, its antioxidant properties can also help to prevent damage to cells, because it can inhibit the oxidation of fat and the creation of free radicals. Fat soluble vitamins that can be destroyed by oxygen are protected by vitamin E and it also helps our bodies to utilise the vitamin A that we intake. Another benefit of vitamin E is that it can also help to slow down the ageing process, and it's also thought to help prevent age spots - so it's one of the essential nutrients that we need to include to keep us healthy on the outside, as well as internally!

Vitamin E foods

If you want to make sure that you're getting enough vitamin E as part of a healthy diet, try these tasty vitamin E foods:

- Cold pressed vegetable oils
- Dark leafy green vegetables
- Legumes, nuts and seeds
- Whole grains
- Kelp
- Brown rice
- Organic meat
- Eggs
- Oatmeal
- Sweet potatoes
- Alfalfa
- Dandelion, nettle and rosehip

What happens if I don't get enough vitamin E?

If you don't get enough vitamin E foods in your diet, you're at risk of vitamin E deficiency - which can cause infertility in both men and women. Vitamin E deficiency can also cause damage to the red blood cells and lead to nerve damage too. If you regularly incorporate processed foods into your diet, you may be at risk of becoming vitamin E deficient. In fact, a lack of vitamin E has been strongly linked to the increase in heart disease cases that we are seeing in these modern times. Try using the vitamin E foods mentioned above as part of your healthy diet plan so that you can enjoy all of the benefits of vitamin E.