What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that has antioxidant properties. Vitamin E also has a role in maintaining cell membranes (cell walls).
What is an antioxidant?
Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals that are released via the different metabolic processes the body performs to break down food and release energy. These free radicals can cause harm to various parts of the body and promote the development of disease.
What are good sources of Vitamin E?
Primary sources of vitamin E in the American diet include various vegetable oils like wheat germ, sunflower and canola oil. It is also found in nuts like hazelnut, almonds, and peanuts (and their nut-butters). Green vegetables are another source of vitamin E like broccoli and spinach. Breakfast cereals are often enriched to provide different vitamins and minerals including Vitamin E.
Am I getting enough Vitamin E?
Recent studies have shown that many Americans are not receiving adequate amounts of Vitamin E to provide the protective benefits mentioned above. Despite this, Vitamin E deficiency as a diagnosis or disease is rarely present.
If you have any other questions – please do not hesitate to reach out. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has also developed a Vitamin E Fact Sheet for consumers which can provide more information: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/#h3