Are Vitamin E Supplements Good For You?

Mind is All

For a while it seemed like vitamin E was the cure-all miracle, but enthusiasm for vitamin E supplements has died down. What do the most recent studies say about the benefits of vitamin E?

What value does vitamin E bring to the table? Vitamin E is essential for healthy muscular and nervous systems. Vitamin E is also valuable because it prevents oxidation, a harmful chemical reaction that can occur in your body is you are vitamin E deficient. Much of the earlier excitement about vitamin E was related to the idea that it worked as an antioxidant, therefore preventing cancer, but these claims appear not to be true. Unfortunately, vitamin E supplements may hurt you more than they help, if taken in large doses.

How should you get your vitamin E? If you eat a diet of eggs, meat, oils, nuts, greens, and grains, you're probably getting enough vitamin E from your everyday meal choices. Vegans may want to ensure they eat plenty of nuts and nut oils,plus leafy greens and vegetable oils, just to make sure they're getting enough vitamin E naturally.

How much vitamin E do you need in a day? Current medical experts say you only need 22 IU (International Units) of Vitamin E a day, with the upper limit being 400 IU. 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.

Should you take vitamin E supplements? Only take vitamin E supplements under a doctor's recommendation and as a part of a treatment plan for a specific condition. Instead aim for a vitamin E rich diet and take a daily multivitamin that provides a base level dosage of vitamin E. If you've got vitamin E oil capsules sitting around, you can use vitamin E oil topically to deal with skin conditions and promote faster healing of wounds. It seems most advisable to consume your daily amount of vitamin E through your diet and supplement using a respected multivitamin instead of trying megadose supplements.