Description:
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that is important for the prevention
of heart disease and some forms of cancer. Vitamin E improves circulation,
helps with proper blood clotting, reduces the scarring of wounds,
reduces blood pressure, improves athletic performance, enhances
libido, maintains healthy nerves, strengthens the capillary system,
promote healthy hair and skin, relaxes leg cramps, and helps to
prevent anemia, and cataracts. As an antioxidant vitamin E prevents
cell damage, and damage to the blood vessels. It also protects the
other fat-soluble vitamins from oxidation, and aids in the body's
use of vitamin A. Deficiency of vitamin E results in damage of red
blood cells, and destruction of nerves. Signs of deficiency can
include infertility, menstrual problems, shortened red blood cell
life span, and an increased risk or heart disease and cancer.
Complimentary Nutrients:
Selenium, magnesium, manganese, A, B complex, B1, inositol, C,
and F. The body needs zinc in order to maintain the proper level
of vitamin E in the blood.
Antagonists:
Rancid fats and oils, chlorine, mineral oil, air pollution,
and birth control pills.
If you need to take iron supplement - I rarely recommend iron supplementation
- take the iron and vitamin E at different times, 8-12 hours apart.
Also make sure that you avoid ferrous sulfate as the iron supplement
because it will destroy vitamin E. Organic forms of iron such as
ferrous gluconate, ferrous fumarate, or ferrous peptonate leaves
vitamin E intact
Health Benefits:
Aging retardation, anti-clotting factor, blood vessels, heart,
lungs, nerves, pituitary gland, anti-oxidant, blood cholesterol
reduction, skin, lung protection from pollution, blood flow to heart,
capillary wall strengthening, diuretic, fertility, male potency,
and muscle and nerve maintenance.
Therapeutic Uses:
Varicose veins, atherosclerosis, baldness, menstrual problems,
menopause, high cholesterol, myopia, phlebitis, crossed eyes, cystitis,
diabetes, heart disease, allergies, arthritis, scars, warts, migraine
headaches, thrombosis, burns, wrinkles, and wounds.
Vitamin Therapies should be done with the supervision of a qualified
health care professional. In the panel on the left, under ailments
you can find more information about treatments for some of these
conditions. You can also locate therapeutic information on this
site by using the search engine - click on 'Search' in the panel
on your left - and entering words relating to the ailment you are
interested in.
Deficiency Indicators:
Impotency, miscarriages, dry, dull or falling hair, muscular wasting,
gastrointestinal disease, heart disease, sterility, and enlarged
prostate gland.
Dosage:
| RDA |
Optimal Health |
Therapeutic Amounts |
| 100 IU |
800 IU |
1000-1600 IU |
RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) are dosages developed by the
FDA. These amounts are designed to prevent deficiency symptoms.
For optimal health it is necessary to take a larger dose. The optimal
health amounts are for adults and children weighing over 100 lbs.
Children under the age of six should be given nutritional formulas
designed specifically for young children. The therapeutic amounts
to treat special conditions are usually much higher, and should
not be taken without the supervision of a qualified health care
professional.
Be careful not to overdose on Vitamin E because it can become toxic.
Unlike water soluble vitamins, where the body excretes excessive
amounts, Vitamin E - a oil soluble vitamin, can accumulate in the
body to toxic levels.
Toxicity Symptoms: elevated blood pressure when starting with high
doses.
Sources:
Vitamin E is found in the following foods: cold-pressed vegetable
oils, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains,
brown rice, eggs, kelp, oatmeal, soybeans, sweet potatoes, watercress,
desiccated liver, butter, fruits, organ meats, and. wheatgerm. Here
are some examples.
| Food |
Amount |
MG |
| safflower/corn oils |
1 tbsp. |
14 |
| almonds |
1 cup |
21 |
| cooked brown rice |
3/4 cup |
2 1/2 |
