Vitamin E a natural antioxidant

Heather Little-White, PhD, Contributor

Vitamin E is an all-protecting vitamin for maintaining good health. Research has shown that apart from preventing heart disease, it is beneficial to the body in several other ways, including protecting the lungs, eyes and blood.

Eye protection

It has been shown that vitamin E can prevent cataracts and a condition called diabetic retinopathy, in which blood vessels break and may cause loss of sight.

Energy for cells

Oxidation is known to wear down to the cells and lead to premature ageing and lowered resistance. However, vitamin E has been shown to slow the ageing process caused by oxidation. The antioxidant value of vitamin E slows the reaction in the cells and the natural antioxidant in vitamin E is readily available to keep us 'forever young' by extending the life of the cells.

Tumour prevention

Vitamin E also helps to prevent the formation of tumours. Combined with other antioxidants, vitamin E has a powerful protective role against tumours.

Boosting immune system

As an antioxidant, vitamin E also plays an important role in boosting the immune system, the body's natural ability to repel invading diseases. It is critical to build up body stores of vitamin E as this tends to fall when a tumour develops. Cancer patients and others with debilitating diseases will need extra supplies of vitamin E and other antioxidants. In general, everyone needs vitamin E to help them cope with stress that may impair the immune response.

Helps circulation

As fat builds up in the blood vessels (atherosclerosis), blood clots can develop as cholesterol levels increase. It may lead to heart attack and stroke. Vitamin E is able to keep high-density lipoproteins at a high level to prevent damage to the heart and blood vessels. Vitamin E reduces the clumping of blood platelets on the arterial walls.

Wound healing

Healing of incisions after surgeries like colostomy, ileostomy and urinary diversions can have success with doses of vitamin E and with vitamin E oil applied to the area.

Improves skin

Persons suffering from dry skin can use wheat germ oil which has vitamin E. Chronic skin diseases have been shown to improve by vitamin E treatment, given orally and applied topically.

Helps pain

Osteoarthritis patients have had their pain relieved through vitamin E. Night-time leg and foot cramps can be relieved through vitamin E

Hot flashes

Women going through menopause should know that vitamin E is a natural, simple solution to hot flashes, especially when combined with vitamin C and calcium.

Daily dietary intake

The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin E may range from 100 international units to 600. Even if you get vitamin E from a supplement, you should try to get enough from your foods.

Food guidelines are:

Consume as little over-processed foods and refined foods as possible. Canned and frozen foods lose up to 65 per cent of their vitamin E during processing.

Reduce your intake of fried foods as these promote oxidation of fats to take place faster.

Whole grains are excellent sources as they have 10 times more vitamin E than bleached white flour and white rice.

Natural nuts like almonds, pecan halves, hazelnuts and peanuts are good sources but they lose 28 per cent when dry-roasted.

Oils like wheat germ, sunflower seed, safflower oil and cod liver are excellent sources of vitamin E.

Salmon steak is also an excellent source of vitamin E.

Fruits like mango and kiwi.

Vitamin E plays a critical role in disease prevention and the foods that are rich in the vitamin should be used lavishly in the diet.