Benefits of Vitamin E

Benefits of Vitamin E and the major role in the health of your body. How does the body function? Well, it needs a variety of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to keep you feeling good. One of those vitamins is vitamin E. This vitamin is good for your overall health but is especially mentioned in relation to the skin.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances in the body that fight the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are produced from the environment through pollution, smoking, the foods we eat, chemicals we ingest and the simple process of aging. Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals before they can do damage. And, free radicals do wreak havoc on your body, playing a role in various conditions like heart disease and cancer.

You can get vitamin E in lotions and cream for direct contact with the skin. Supplements give you concentrated vitamin E to benefit the entire body. Vitamin E is also found in foods like nuts, seeds, wheat germ and vegetable oils. The best form of vitamin E to get is alpha-tocopherol in its alcohol form and not as acetate.

Why is vitamin E so important? For one, it is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it can incorporate itself into the cellular wall. Here it protects body cells from breakdown and thus the breakdown of other body tissues. It also protects vitamin A while it does its job in the body. Getting your daily recommended dose of vitamin E can prevent or help in the treatment of:

* Heart disease

* Asthma

* Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

* Cataracts and other eye conditions

* Different types of cancer

* Metabolic conditions like diabetes

* Menstrual cramps

* Skin conditions

People mostly take vitamin E for their skin. As an antioxidant, it helps to reduce the signs of aging such as dry skin (psoriasis), wrinkles, age spots and scars. Vitamin E helps the skin to retain a balanced moisture level that can become unbalanced from the use of cleaning solutions. With more water and oil in your skin, it appears plump and vibrant like a healthy organ should.

Many use vitamin E for scars. This can be from burns, stretch marks (from childbirth or weight training), or surgery. Vitamin E softens the skin and speeds healing. Over time, the appearance of these scars is reduced.

The best source for vitamin E is food. Be careful here, though. Processing foods can cause the loss of vitamin and minerals including vitamin E. Eat foods in their natural form with as little processing as possible for maximum benefit. Like anything else, getting your vitamins from food is best, and use supplements if your doctor recommends it.