Simply put, vitamin E is a group of various fat soluble compounds that, when ingested, exhibit antioxidant effects; this family of compounds consist of tocopherols and tocotrienols.  Some of the primary roles of vitamin E include the prevention of oxidative stress, supporting healthy skin and protecting against bladder cancer.  Some studies have shown vitamin E to be part of a preventative program to help protect against prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin E seems to be most notable for its ability to help prevent oxidative stress, which essentially means, damage to cells, tissues and organs.  Another way of describing this is vitamin E helps to neutralize potentially damaging free radicals in the human body.  Free radicals are always going to be present in the body; it’s something that just naturally happens because of the way we live and the environment we are in.  It’s important to be able to effectively reduce those free radicals so you can maintain a healthier lifestyle.

You’ll be able to find vitamin E in many foods.  There are a variety of sources vitamin E is founds in, but most recognizably you’ll see it in fruits, vegetables and nuts.  These include:

• greens (mustard, chard. collard & turnip)
• bell peppers
• tomatoes
• broccoli
• kiwi
• blueberries
• kiwi
• peanut butter
• almonds
• sunflower seeds

Unlike other vitamins, it’s more difficult to determine if someone is deficient in vitamin E and there is a lot of controversial research regarding this topic.  Generally, when someone is low in this vitamin it is due to malabsorption which stems from poor digestive health.  Another area of focus for vitamin E deficiency stems from something called peripheral neuropathy; this is where someone experiences problems with circulation in their extremities.

By incorporating vitamin E into your diet you’ll be able to help protect your skin from UV light and help prevent damage to your cells from free radicals.  If you are experiencing issues with digestive health, having liver or gallbladder problems, or experience numbing in your extremities, you could very well be deficient in vitamin E.  As with all other vitamins, there are huge health benefits from consuming enough vitamin E in your daily diet.