Are Vitamin E Supplements Good For You?

It was popular to take vitamin E supplements, but the excitement about this vitamin has diminshed over time. What do the most recent studies say about the benefits of vitamin E?

Why do you need vitamin E? Vitamin E is essential for healthy muscular and nervous systems. It also prevents oxidation, a little-discussed but quite destructive chemical reaction related to having too little vitamin E. Much of the enthusiasm behind vitamin E as a supplement was directly linked to the belief that vitamin E acted as an antioxidant, and reducing chances of developing cancer, but sadly, this does not appear to be the case. Unfortunately, vitamin E supplements may hurt you more than they help, if taken in large doses.

What's the best way to get your recommended amount of vitamin E? You can get plenty of vitamin E from eggs, fruit, leafy greens, nuts, meat, several different types of oils, and whole grains. If you are a vegan, and don't eat meat or eggs, be sure to load up on nuts, nut and vegetable oils, and leafy greens to make sure you get your vitamin E.

How much vitamin E do you need in a day? The latest nutrition guidelines say to keep your vitamin E consumption in between 22-400 IU (International Units) a day. This is important to note, since many trends recommended mega doses of vitamin E, and recent studies say a daily dose of over 400 IU can cause health complications.

Are vitamin E supplements good for you? You should only take vitamin E supplements if your doctor has recommended them for a specific condition, such as altitude sickness, anemia, malnutrition, or angina. While our bodies absorb some nutrients from supplements, it appears that our bodies prefer natural sources of vitamin E over supplements. If you're looking for a use for those vitamin E oil capsules, topical applications of vitamin E have been proven to help promote faster healing and soothe eczema. Try eating a well-rounded diet, and taking a reputable daily multivitamin instead of taking mega doses of vitamin E supplements.