1) Vitamin E has a reputation for increasing sexual potency and endurance.
2) As an antioxidant, Vitamin E may slow down the aging process.
3) Vitamin E is essential for the functioning of red blood cells.
4) Improvements in physical stamina and endurance have been attributed to vitamin E.
5) Vitamin E is used to reduce wrinkling and promote the healing of damaged skin.
6) In addition to being an antioxidant, vitamin E helps to protect other antioxidants.
7) Vitamin E can be used in the effort to ward off heart disease.
8) The lungs are protected from the effects of pollution by vitamin E.
9) Vitamin E is helpful in the prevention of blood clots.
10) The risk for strokes, heart disease, and arthritis may be decreased by vitamin E.
Vitamin E’s reputation as an antioxidant is based on the theory that it both protects cells from oxidation and stabilizes the free radicals that cause damage. The process works by vitamin E “donating” electrons to electron-deficient free radicals, which makes them more stable and reduces the harm they can inflict.
This antioxidant capacity of vitamin E is the basis of its reputation for being an agent that can aid in the prevention of degenerative diseases. Vitamin E, therefore, is commonly recommended to prevent and treat senility, strokes, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.
Because vitamin E is easy to get from foods and is a popular supplement and nutrient in multi-vitamins, deficiencies of vitamin E have become increasingly rare. Without the antioxidant effect of vitamin E, the aging and degenerative processes may speed up. More immediate symptoms of vitamin E deficiency can include acne, fatigue, slow healing of wounds, and inflammation of varicose veins.
In order to prevent a deficiency of vitamin E the Recommended Dietary Allowance per day for males is 10 mg and 8 mg for females. Because of all the possible benefits of vitamin E, it is not unusual for individuals to greatly exceed the RDA guidelines for vitamin E. For any significant toxic effects to occur, however, the amount of vitamin E consumed would have to be enormous, though people on anticoagulant medications are warned not to take more than 1,200 iu of vitamin E per day.
Good natural sources of vitamin E include oils, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beef, seafood, spinach, apples, and carrots.
Copyright © Dennis Becker, 2004.
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