The Importance of Including Vitamin E In Your Diet
It’s well known that in order to lead a full life, exercising and maintaining a balanced diet are important factors. The human body acquires all of its basic requirements such as vitamin E through food. Vitamin E is one of many essential elements that the body needs to function properly.
Vitamin E is also known as tocopherol, it’s a fat-soluble substance and best absorbed with foods that contain fat. It’s well known for its great antioxidant capacity, however, it also has many other important functions.
It strengthens the immune system
Vitamin E improves the effectiveness of the body’s main line of defense against the attack of foreign agents. It also contributes to a rapid immune response. This is a capacity that progressively becomes slower over time.
Tocopherol reduces the appearance of infectious diseases and plays an important role in overcoming them. It acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory and it facilitates the healing of wounds.
Vitamin E improves circulation
Vitamin E has the ability to make blood “thinner”. It also helps to maintain an adequate concentration of platelets, facilitating circulation and reducing the risks of arterial diseases.
The benefits that vitamin E provides promotes heart health. The heart works less if the blood that reaches it has the right consistency.
Tocopherol protects vision
When it comes to infants and young children, vitamin E is a fundamental element that is necessary for the proper development of the visual system. It plays an important role in the protection of the eyeballs and reduces the manifestation of involuntary and unnatural pupil movements.
Children who have all of their vitamin E needs met in the womb are less likely to suffer from strabismus. Strabismus is a pathology that consists of the loss of eye parallelism, this causes each eyeball to move in different directions.
Enemy of free radicals
The body naturally creates free radicals to fight viruses and bacteria. However, when there are too many free radicals circulating it can cause dangerous effects. Foods that contain vitamin E are great allies in the fight against free radicals.
Vitamin E, omega-3 and lutein are antioxidants. They are proven to be effective at protecting against degenerative diseases and cell aging.
Studies have also shown the effectiveness of these active ingredients in the prevention of cancer of the bladder, prostate, colon, and rectum cancers. They are also known to reduce the risks of rheumatic diseases, dementia, and muscle degeneration.
Skin care
Vitamin E fulfills protective functions when it comes to the skin. Many commercial creams contain vitamin E among their active components. Some pharmacies or sports stores sell supplements that can even be applied topically.
The application of the content of a capsule directly on the face can be a lot more effective when it comes to the reduction of wrinkles than other specialized formulas.
Other unconventional applications of vitamin E include vitamin E infused lip balm to prevent dryness or to erase stretch marks.
Where to find vitamin E?
There is a broad list of foods that contain this important element. The list includes vegetables such as chard, spinach, and broccoli as well as condiments such as paprika, basil, and oregano.
Almonds contain high concentrations , both in their natural state or as derivatives such as almond oil or milk. Hazelnuts, pistachios, raw sesame seeds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds as well as kiwi and mango all contain vitamin E.