Many people are looking for ways to lose weight. Some turn to exercise, others go on a diet, but there is one supplement that does it all! Vitamin E has been found to help with weight loss in several different studies and has many other benefits as well. In this article we will discuss the 8 ways that vitamin E can help you lose weight!
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How Does Vitamin E Help Weight Loss
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help to protect your cells from free radicals, which are known to cause cellular damage. Vitamin E also has been shown to lower levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, and it may be able to reduce weight gain due to overeating or a high-calorie diet by reducing inflammation.
Here are some ways in which Vitamin E can help weight loss
Vitamin E may help you lose weight by reducing inflammation. Vitamin E can also reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, which would be beneficial for people who are trying to lower their risk of heart disease.
Loss of appetite due to depression or other medical conditions could cause some people to overeat; vitamin E is known to stimulate feelings of fullness so that those on diets will eat less food without feeling hungry!
Some studies have shown an inverse relationship between intake of dietary fat and serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (a form of vitamin e) – meaning greater intakes result in more antioxidant protection against free radicals that might contribute to weight gain.
A number of observational studies found associations between increased use
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that supports good vision, aids reproduction, and helps provide healthy skin. It’s also good for your brain and heart. The body can store Vitamin E so you do not need to consume it every day and, if you are eating a well-balanced diet, the chances of deficiency are quite slim.
What is Vitamin E
On a chemical level, Vitamin E consists of eight fat-soluble components. Each one has its own individual characteristics. Alpha-tocopherol is believed to be the one that is most important for providing good health.
Like the other three fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K), Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect the body from the free radical toxins it’s exposed to via food and the environment. Radiation, tobacco smoke, car exhaust fumes, and many other things you may have become oblivious to are bombarding your body with free radicals every day.
When free radicals build up in the body it causes oxidative stress. This is bad for the heart and can damage the health in many other ways. Oxidative stress has been linked to cancer, diabetes, and a number of other serious health conditions so Vitamin E’s ability to fight free radicals is an important virtue.
A Look at Some Vitamin E Benefits
There are a lot of health benefits associated with Vitamin E. Many people take it in supplement form to try and avoid heart disease and other cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. Vitamin E also balances cholesterol so it’s certainly a heart-friendly vitamin.
Vitamin E also receives a lot of attention for its ability to encourage healthy skin. Many people use oral supplements especially for this reason and it’s a key ingredient in many beauty creams.
This list is not conclusive, but other benefits associated with Vitamin E include:
- Thickens the hair
- Reduces the symptoms of PMS
- Reduces inflammation
- Improves the vision
- Provides improved endurance
- Increases muscle strength
- May slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease
Good Sources of Vitamin E
The best sources of Vitamin are plant-based. The amount provided by meat and poultry is minimal.
Some good food choices are:
- Sunflower seeds/oil
- Almonds
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Butternut squash
- Olive Oil
- Peanuts
Many breakfast cereals and other foods are are fortified with Vitamin E, so there are plenty of ways to get extra Vitamin E into your body without the need for using supplements.
Daily Requirement
For adults, the recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamin E is 15mg. Women who are pregnant need slightly more (22-30mg/day). Consuming more than this without a doctor’s approval may be unwise because research suggests higher doses may result in a decrease in birth weight.
What Happens if You Don’t Get Enough Vitamin E
If you are eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, it is unlikely that you will be deficient in Vitamin E, unless you have an underlying health problem or there are outside factors that are causing you to become deficient. The use of fat blocking products can do this, as can certain other medications.
Symptoms of Vitamin E deficiency may include:
- Poor coordination
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Hemolytic anemia
- Impaired immune system
- Visual disturbances
- Feeling generally unwell
When the body lacks sufficient Vitamin E it can also cause nerve problems because the deficiency can alter the nerve membrane structure. This hampers the nerves’ ability to relay electrical impulses.
What Happens If You Get Too Much Vitamin E
If the RDA is not exceeded, using a Vitamin E supplement is unlikely to cause side effects, but negative reactions are not unheard of.
Possible side effects include:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal cramps
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Blurred vision
It’s important to be aware Vitamin E thins the blood. This can increase the risk of bleeding, especially if used alongside aspirin or blood thinning medications. It’s also known to interact badly with certain other medications.
Additional Considerations
You need to get an adequate quantity of Vitamin E to maintain good health. Most people can achieve this without making any major changes to their diet. Using supplements can be a good way to increase levels of Vitamin E, but unless you are certain you are suffering from a deficiency using supplements may be unwise. If you get too much Vitamin E it can cause side effects. Your body will also store the excess, leading to further problems.
If you are worried you may not be getting enough Vitamin E, the best thing to do is discuss the matter with a doctor or a qualified dietitian. Either one will be able to offer expert advice on improving your diet and will be able to tell you if a supplement is needed.
If you keep a food journal, take it along with you. The information it contains will help your doctor/dietitian gain an improved understanding of your present diet and help them to give you even better advice.
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