Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient present in many foods. It protects cells from free radical damage by acting as an antioxidant in the body. Our bodies produce free radicals when they convert the food we eat into energy. A fat-soluble vitamin, Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant in fat-based tissues such as the heart, helping neutralize free radicals. Free radicals might play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Many cells require Vitamin E to function properly, including heart muscle cells. It is an antioxidant and an essential nutrient for most cells. Taking vitamin E is also beneficial for maintaining a healthy immune system. It helps boost the body's immunity so that it can fight off bacteria and viruses.
A vitamin E supplement is used to treat or prevent vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E is not needed in excess by most people who eat a normal diet. People who are unable to absorb enough vitamin E from their diets, however, need vitamin E supplements. Providing protection against oxidative damage is one of the primary functions of vitamin E.
Additionally, it prevents blood from clotting within blood vessels. Furthermore, vitamin E plays a significant role in interacting between cells and carrying out many important processes.
Vitamin E protects the walls of your arteries and prevents oxidized cholesterol from adhering to the walls. Furthermore, it helps promote healthy blood sugar levels, protects your retina, and aids your body in healing itself.
Vitamin E is a nutrient that's critical to
- Vision
- Reproduction
- Blood health
- Brain
- Skin
- Immune system
A variety of foods contain vitamin E, including canola oil, olive oil, margarine, almonds, and peanuts. Meats, dairy products, leafy greens, and fortified cereals are also good sources of vitamin E.
Vitamin E is found in what foods?
Vitamin E is naturally present in foods, as well as added to some fortified foods. The following foods contain vitamin E in recommended amounts:
- Nuts and seeds such as peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds and sunflower seeds are also among the highest sources of vitamin E
- Green vegetables like spinach and broccoli
- Fish
- Avocado
Is my vitamin E intake adequate?
Most Americans do not consume enough vitamin E in their diets. In spite of this, healthy people do not often exhibit any obvious signs of vitamin E deficiency.
Can vitamin E deficiency cause health problems?
There are very few healthy people who are deficient in vitamin E. The disorder is almost always associated with certain diseases in which fat cannot be digested or absorbed properly. Some examples are Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED). The digestive system needs fat to absorb vitamin E.
Nerve and muscle damage caused by vitamin E deficiency can result in numbness in the arms and legs, weakness of the muscles, and vision problems. Weakened immunity is another sign of deficiency.
