Vitamin E benefits some of the body’s most fundamental everyday functions, including helping fight disease and preventing oxidative stress. Without enough, you may not see these contributions to your health. Learn vitamin E benefits you can gain, identify if you could be deficient, and see how easy it is to supplement with BetterYou.
Table of Contents:
- What is Vitamin E?
- 7 Vitamin E Benefits
- How Much Vitamin E Per Day?
- Benefits of Vitamin E Supplements
- 5 Signs of Vitamin E Deficiency
- 20 Sources of Vitamin E
What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E, similar to vitamin B, is actually a group of eight fat-soluble compounds, rather than one single type of vitamin. These contribute to some of the essential vitamins your body needs to function properly, such as vitamin D for bones and vitamin K for your blood. They are found in a variety of foods and are included in supplements.
There are many benefits of vitamin E which make it vital for your health. Vitamin E supports the immune system and can contribute to healthy vision. For a number of reasons, the vitamin is essential to include in your diet and alongside supplements, to avoid low levels.
7 Vitamin E Benefits
Vitamin E benefits your body and health in multiple essential ways, including protecting cells from oxidative stress. To aid your body’s vital functions, ensure your intake is optimal to help you avoid low levels. The benefits of vitamin E include:
1. Contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress
Vitamin E is a known antioxidant. Vitamin E protects your cells by helping to reduce the number of free-radicals by neutralising them. Free-radicals are oxidised (unstable) molecules which travel around the body, can cause illness, and are linked to ageing. Removing these excess free-radicals helps protect cells from damage. This is also a benefit of zinc and a benefit of selenium which can be taken to contribute to this essential health process.
2. Supports the immune system
Another benefit of vitamin E is its contribution to the immune system. It does this by supporting the growth of t cells. T cells fight against infected cells and activate other immune cells for an effective response. That way, one of the benefits of vitamin E is helping you stay healthy and free from illness. Immune system supplements can help to support your health and help keep you free from infection.
3. Maintains healthy skin
Thanks to its role as an antioxidant, vitamin E benefits the skin, protecting it from the signs of ageing to which free-radicals contribute. Therefore, including this vitamin in your skin supplements can help support your health. If the body does not have enough antioxidant protection to neutralise these toxins, the lipid layers of cells can be damaged. This can cause an imbalance of nutrients and amino acids, cause DNA damage, and protein oxidation which leads to the signs of ageing.
4. Increases red blood cell count
Vitamin E benefits your blood by helping to boost red blood cells. Red blood cells are essential cells which carry oxygen from your lungs, in the blood, to the rest of the body. Without this vital function, your body cannot make energy. Vitamin E benefits this process thanks to its antioxidant property. It prevents the oxidation, and therefore the breakdown, of the cell membrane in red bloods. Thus, prevent them from declining, and supporting your body in getting oxygen to the cells which need it. Vitamin K benefits your blood too, by working to make clots when you get a cut or scratch.
5. Reducing risk of vitamin E deficiency
Intaking this nutrient is a way to reduce your risk of developing vitamin E deficiency and the unwanted health problems which come along with it. These symptoms can include nerve and muscle damage, and vision problems.
6. Improve kidney function
High blood pressure can be detrimental to your kidneys, and vitamin E benefits blood pressure thanks to its antioxidant quality. Reducing your blood pressure can help your kidneys to function at their best.
7. Supports healthy eyes
Due to the antioxidant benefits of vitamin E, it can help to promote healthy eyes. Free-radicals, which antioxidants protect against, break down healthy eye tissue. This is what may lead to the formation of cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the eyes.
These benefits of vitamin E are vital to avoiding low levels, and helping you feel your best. Whether you supplement this vitamin or you include it in your diet, making sure you find a source of nutrients is essential if you want to reap the benefits vitamin E brings.
How Much Vitamin E Per Day?
According to NHS, the recommended daily intake for this vitamin is:
- 4mg a day for men
- 3mg a day for women
The safe upper limit is 300 mg/day for adults aged 18+. Intaking more than the daily intake of vitamins and minerals is safe, provided you stay below these upper limits.
Do not exceed the upper limits of vitamins and minerals, and always follow nutrient reference value guidelines.
Benefits of Vitamin E Supplements
Vitamin E supplements can help you aid your intake of this essential nutrient, therefore supporting your body to see vitamin E benefits. At BetterYou, we’ve developed supplements with hassle and pill-free formulas, to help you support your health.
The Selenium + ACE oral spray contains an expert blend of selenium, vitamin E, and vitamins A and C. The spray was formulated to protect cells from oxidative stress and support the normal function of the immune system. That way you can help your body experience the assets of vitamin A, selenium, vitamin C benefits and vitamin E benefits.
5 Signs of Vitamin E Deficiency
Sometimes, your vitamin and mineral levels can get too low, this is known as a deficiency. There are unwanted and harmful side effects which come along with deficiencies. Identifying the signs can help you regulate your levels to ensure you intake enough nutrients and instead see vitamin E benefits. Some signs of vitamin E deficiency include:
- Nerve and muscle damage
- Weakness of the muscles
- Weak immune system
- Vision problems
- Loss of feeling in arms and legs
If you think you are showing the symptoms of deficiency, seek medical advice from your GP or other health professional. They may arrange a test to determine if you are deficient. With BetterYou, you can check your own nutrient levels with our Health Test Kits. That way, you can determine whether you may need multivitamins in order to experience vitamin E benefits.
20 Sources of Vitamin E
Encouraging a proper nutritional intake can help you see the benefits of vitamin E. You can do this through your diet, alongside taking supplements. Some foods which contain a source of the nutrient include:
- Vitamin E supplements
- Sunflower seeds
- Almonds
- Hazelnuts
- Peanuts
- Pistachios
- Sunflower seeds
- Brazil nuts
- Avocado
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Blackberries
- Blackcurrants
- Raspberries
- Broccoli
- Butternut squash
- Asparagus
- Spinach
- Green beans
- Green leafy vegetables
Your body is able to store vitamin E, so any that it does not use will be saved for future use. Therefore, you do not necessarily need it in your diet every day to experience the benefits of vitamin E.
