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Featured
supplement
-Vitamin E- |
Vitamin E is well on its way to becoming a superhero
in the antioxidant army. Due to it's fat-soluble nature it can do
its antioxidant work where most of the other antioxidants can't go.
Vitamin E is incorporated into cell membranes as well as guarding
the the fat molecules in the bloodstream from free-radical damage.
Studies have also shown that it is a potent stimulator of the immune
system, helping protect the thymus gland and guarding white blood
cells from damage. Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce levels
of inflammatory prostaglandins, which can lead to a number of health
problems. By keeping an optimum level of vitamin E in the body you
will benefit from a decreased incidence of various cancers, decreased
risk of heart disease and strokes, and excellent free-radical protection.
When incorporating exercise and physical activity into your daily
life Vitamin E becomes even more important. As you exercise, your
rate of respiration increases which leads to an increase in the production
of free-radicals. This increase in free-radical production has been
shown to play an important role in causing skeletal muscle damage
and inflammation after strenuous exercise.
Food sources of vitamin E include: wheat germ, whole grains, leafy
vegetables, broccoli, unroasted almonds, sunflower seeds and Brazil
nuts. Depending on age and level of activity, adults should get between
400-800 IU of vitamin E daily. When looking for a supplement, the
preferred form has mixed tocopherols (this should include d-alpha,
d-beta, d-gamma, and d-delta tocopherols). Vitamin E should be used
cautiously by anyone with an overactive thyroid or rheumatic heart
disease. Vitamin E in large doses may aggravate iron deficiency anemia.
Vitamin E supplements can cause a transient rise in blood pressure
and should be used with caution by anyone suffering from hypertension
or who have blood-clotting problems of any kind or take anticoagulant
medication. |
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