Vitamin E: The Forgotten Vitamin
When the average diner sits down to a meal, he or she is not concerned with how much vitamin E is on his or her plate. Vitamin B, maybe. Vitamin C, definitely. But vitamin E is often lost in the hustle and bustle toward healthier living. The vitamin exists in eight forms, but each of these forms is a powerful antioxidant. However, most of the foods that contain the vitamin, including vegetable oils, nuts and cereals, are often overlooked in the search for low-fat, carbohydrate-free diets, as are the benefits of this diversified antioxidant.
Avoidance
Vitamin E deficiency in humans is rare. The body does not require extensive daily intake of the vitamin, and for the most part, the grains and nuts and other sources of the vitamin are consumed at least once a day. However, for some people, vitamin E deficiency is a serious matter. Premature babies and adults with fat metabolism disorders or genetic abnormalities are at high risk for this deficiency. Vitamin E deficiency can lead to numerous neurological problems, including nerve degeneration in the feet and the hands.
Individuals with Crohn's Disease and Cystic Fibrosis cannot absorb fats or vitamin E naturally and must take supplements in order to avoid certain intestinal disorders. Sometimes, the absence of the vitamin can cause blindness, muscle weakness and even the loss of the ability to walk, and for these people in particular, finding a method of absorption is crucial to survival.
Indulgence
Vitamin E can act as an anticoagulant if taken in too high doses, which can lead to hemorrhaging and other forms of excessive bleeding. However, the vitamin itself is not really toxic, and for the most part, it is not stored in the body.
Harmony
Due to its status as an antioxidant, vitamin E has numerous health benefits. Its ability to fight off free radicals, or foreign cells in the body, has given it the status of a potential cure-all. The vitamin may delay coronary heart disease by inhibiting the effects of bad cholesterol. Long-term supplementation may even provide protection against cardiovascular disease.
Vitamin E and other antioxidants are known to strengthen cell membranes, providing them the power to ward off free radicals. Free radicals contribute to the development of numerous chronic diseases, including cancer. So far the studies have been inconclusive, but the vitamin may help decrease the incidence of breast cancer and prostate cancer in particular.
Antioxidants may also prevent or at least delay the growth of cataracts. Lens clarity is often stronger in regular users of vitamin E supplements.
