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1:10 PM Vitamin E Protects Your Skin and Cell Membranes

Vitamin E is another essential immune nutrient for your body. It is sometimes called the "skin vitamin” because it protects collagen and elastin in the skin from solar radiation and toxic chemicals. It neutralizes toxic free radicals in the skin, helping to prevent age spots and skin cancer. Dr. Paul Knekt, a researcher at finland's Social Insurance Institution, performed a long-term study of cancer in 36,000 finnish citizens. He found that those with the lowest blood levels of vitamin E had nearly twice the risk of developing skin cancer. Vitamin E also protects cell membranes, epithelial linings, and glands such as the breasts. According to Dr. Knekt's study, women with low blood levels of both vitamin E and selenium have a ten times greater risk of developing breast cancer. Vitamin E not only protects the skin and breasts, but also protects the body's other protectors. It protects the heart and lymphatic system and plays a vital role in the immune system, by assisting in the production of B-cells, T-cells, and several antibodies. Like the carotenes, vitamin E is fat-soluble. It prevents rancidity of fatty acids in the blood stream, especially in the membranes of red blood cells. Vitamin E boosts the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells, enhances circulation, and helps oxygenate body tissues and the skin. It also protects enzymes, sex hormones, and other antioxidants (primarily carotenes) from toxic damage in cell membranes, especially those comprising the skin. It has also gained attention for offering protection from coronary artery disease. Vitamin E is listed on supplement labels mainly as natural d-alpha tocopherol or synthetic dl-alpha tocopherol. There is a great difference in the activity and bioavailablity of natural (d-) and synthetic (dl-) vitamin E. Synthetic vitamin E (another chemical) has the opposite molecular structure of the natural form, and is up to 50% less bioavailable . The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin E is very low-- 22 international units (IU) per day. All the RDAs, in fact, are too low . In these toxic times, the most commonly recommended amount of supplemental vitamin E for adults is 400 to 800 IU per day. Some research studies have produced warnings about taking too much. But these studies all used the synthetic form of vitamin E, not the natural one. The natural form has not been proven toxic in large doses. When checking vitamin labels watch out for and avoid dl-, which means synthetic (another chemical). Vitamin E also protects your skin, your eyes (with vitamins A and C), and the rest of your body from radiation damage and toxic chemicals such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, ozone, carbon monoxide, and the toxic side effects of many drugs. Unfortunately for us, vitamin E is largely destroyed in food processing, especially in grain conversion to flour. The immune powerfoods spirulina, unrefined vegetable oils , and sprouted seeds and grains , all provide some vitamin E. The best natural sources contain a mix of several different tocopherols and tocotrienols. Just as mixed natural carotenes are more nutritionally effective, so are mixed natural tocopherols with tocotrienols. Share |

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