| It is important to understand that we are ultimately | | | | you purchase only those supplements that have been |
| responsible for our own well-being and should do | | | | extracted from a natural food source and have no |
| whatever is necessary to maintain our health and | | | | harmful additives included. A proper balance of |
| assist our bodies in resisting and fighting disease. Since | | | | vitamins are needed in the body because they work in |
| health practitioners agree that vitamins are essential | | | | synergy, or cooperative action, and high doses of one |
| for life and health, we must ensure that we receive | | | | vitamin can induce a depletion of another. You can |
| adequate amounts for our bodies to function properly | | | | take vitamin E safely in a one a day multivitamin, or as |
| and to protect us from illnesses. Vitamin E is one of | | | | single vitamin supplement if you wish to take an |
| the vitamins to which we should pay particular | | | | amount higher than is included in a multivitamin. Visit a |
| attention. | | | | vitamin store and watch for the opportunity to |
| A vitamin is an organic substance essential for life that | | | | purchase your vitamins at a discount. |
| regulates metabolism and assists the processes that | | | | How Much Do We Need? |
| release energy from digested food. Vitamin E, | | | | The amount of vitamin E you need depends on your |
| discovered in the mid-twentieth century, assists in | | | | age, your weight, and the problems you are trying to |
| strengthening our immune systems and helps protect | | | | solve or prevent. Remember that supplements should |
| us from a variety of problems as well as several | | | | be taken daily, and should be taken with food so that |
| serious illnesses. This vitamin can be obtained from | | | | you will receive other nutrients to assist in their |
| food or supplements. | | | | assimilation. Keep your supplements in a cool, dark |
| There are two kinds of vitamins and both are needed | | | | place to protect their potency, and take them as part |
| by the body. Vitamin E, like vitamins A, D, and K, is a | | | | of your mealtime routine: |
| fat-soluble vitamin that can be stored within the body in | | | | - To maintain good health, you should take a minimum |
| fatty tissue. Vitamin B complex and vitamin C are | | | | amount of 200 IUs daily. |
| water-soluble vitamins that cannot be stored and the | | | | - To help lower raised cholesterol levels, especially in |
| excess amounts are excreted in the urine. Fat-soluble | | | | young adults, take 300 to 600 IUs daily. |
| vitamins - with the exception of vitamin A - are | | | | - For reducing menopausal symptoms, take 400 IUs |
| measured in international units (IUs), and studies by the | | | | daily. |
| U.S. government's National Institute on Aging have | | | | - To help combat coronary artery disease and poor |
| shown that at least 200 IUs daily of vitamin E are | | | | circulation, take 400 IUs daily. |
| needed to garner any significant benefits from taking | | | | Be Careful: |
| this vitamin. | | | | It is important to understand the different functions of |
| How Does It Help? | | | | vitamins if you are going to ingest them separately |
| - Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects | | | | instead of within a multivitamin where the formulation |
| tissue against free radicals. Free radicals are unstable | | | | will ensure a proper balance. In the case of vitamin E, |
| molecules that usually contain oxygen and can | | | | there are a variety of concerns of which you should |
| interaction with DNA and other molecules leading to an | | | | be aware: |
| impaired cell function. Vitamin E, one of the chemical | | | | - Vitamin E should be taken under medical supervision |
| compounds that prevents oxygen from reacting with | | | | if you are also taking blood-thinning drugs (anticoagulant |
| other compounds, neutralizes free radicals, and is, | | | | medication). Vitamin E acts as a blood thinner, too. |
| therefore, one of the body's natural defenses against | | | | - Remember that vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, and |
| cancer and cardiovascular disease. | | | | since it will be stored in the body in fatty tissue, it can |
| - Vitamin E is also important in the formation of red | | | | reach toxic levels. People who decide to take |
| blood cells and helps the body use vitamin K. Vitamin E | | | | mega-doses of vitamins and don't know what they're |
| improves circulation, is necessary in the repair of tissue, | | | | doing can suffer from too much of a good thing with |
| promotes normal blood clotting and healing, and can | | | | this vitamin. If you are taking a multivitamin supplement |
| reduce scarring, too. | | | | and a separate vitamin E supplement, make sure you |
| - Women find it useful in the treatment of premenstrual | | | | are not taking a toxic dose. Anything over 1200 IUs |
| syndrome and fibrocystic disease of the breast. | | | | should not be taken without consulting a health |
| - Older adults take it to help reduce blood pressure, | | | | professional. |
| relax leg cramps, help prevent cataracts, and, perhaps, | | | | - Be careful if you take iron as well as vitamin E. |
| to assist in reducing age spots. | | | | These two supplements should be taken at different |
| - Vitamin E also helps prevent anemia, maintains | | | | times of the day because iron in the form of ferrous |
| healthy nerves and muscles, and promotes healthy | | | | sulfate will destroy vitamin E. Organic forms of iron |
| skin and hair. | | | | such as ferrous gluconate or ferrous fumarate, |
| Where Do We Find It? | | | | however, will not harm the vitamin. Read the label and |
| Food sources of vitamin E are nuts (e.g., almonds), | | | | make sure you know which form of iron you are |
| sunflower seeds, cold pressed vegetable oils, whole | | | | taking. |
| grains (e.g., wheat germ), olives, legumes, and dark and | | | | - Diabetics, people with overactive thyroids, and those |
| leafy vegetable (e.g., asparagus and spinach). There | | | | with rheumatic heart diseases should be especially |
| are also significant quantities of this vitamin in such | | | | careful not to take more than recommended dosages |
| foods as brown rice, cornmeal, eggs, kelp, milk, and | | | | of vitamin E. |
| organ meats. Some herb vitamin E sources are alfalfa, | | | | - If you suffer from high blood pressure, begin with 200 |
| bladderwrack, dandelion, flax, nettle, and rose hips. | | | | IUs of vitamin E per day and gradually increase the |
| Vitamin E, like all other vitamins, is not only available | | | | dose over a period of six weeks until you reach the |
| from food sources, but also as a supplement. It can be | | | | desired level. |
| purchased in the form of a tablet, a capsule, or a liquid, | | | | - If you are taking vitamin E, you must also take a |
| and as a powder that can be mixed with water or | | | | minimum dose of zinc as well, and some supplements |
| juice or added to gels or bars. It can also be | | | | will include the necessary amount of zinc in the Vitamin |
| administered by injection. Read labels carefully so that | | | | E tablet or capsule. |