Vitamin E Supplements Proven Harmful to Health
Why is a focus on meeting daily minimum requirements of Vitamin E and vitamins in general from natural food sources instead of from supplements important? Recent studies have proven that taking Vitamin E Supplements raises the risk of developing prostate cancer in men by over 17%. That is a significant increase in cancer risk. Also, prostate cancer carries the risk of spreading cancer to other parts of the body. High doses of Vitamin E supplements can cause hemorrhage and interrupt blood coagulation. Findings that Vitamin E supplements increase incidents of cancer is consistent with other recent finding that taking vitamin supplements, over the long term, carry risks of developing cancer, heart disease or other diseases. All vitamin supplements are by nature considered toxic within the medical community. This toxicity increases over long-term use. This toxic risk should become more widely known among the general population. The best and most healthy source of Vitamin E, as with other vitamins, is from natural whole food sources. See Vitamin D Synthesis from the Sun and Food Sources. See also Natural Food Sources of Calcium.
Natural Food Sources of Vitamin E from Leafy Greens, Nuts, Whole Grains, Vegetables, Fruit, Vegetable Oils and Herbs
Whole grain products are an excellent source of nutrients including Vitamin E. However, milling of whole grains which involves removing the outer husk and the germ, and bleaching of flour eliminates or destroys most of the vitamin E content. Consumption of processed grain products contribute to a marginal vitamin E intake.
Also, although the vitamin E is heat-stable, the high temperatures used in frying can destroy the vitamin.
The sole natural food sources of Vitamin E come from plant based foods such as leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, vegetable oils and herbs. Spices and herbs including chili pepper, cloves, cayenne pepper, oregano, ginger, thyme, cinnamon and sage
Natural Food Sources of Vitamin E – Source: National Institute of Health
| Natural Food Sources of Vitamin E | Milligrams (mg) per serving | Percent DV* |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat germ oil, 1 tablespoon | 20.3 | 100 |
| Sunflower seeds, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 7.4 | 37 |
| Almonds, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 6.8 | 34 |
| Sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon | 5.6 | 28 |
| Safflower oil, 1 tablespoon | 4.6 | 25 |
| Hazelnuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 4.3 | 22 |
| Peanut butter, 2 tablespoons | 2.9 | 15 |
| Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 2.2 | 11 |
| Corn oil, 1 tablespoon | 1.9 | 10 |
| Spinach, boiled, ½ cup | 1.9 | 10 |
| Broccoli, chopped, boiled, ½ cup | 1.2 | 6 |
| Soybean oil, 1 tablespoon | 1.1 | 6 |
| Kiwifruit, 1 medium | 1.1 | 6 |
| Mango, sliced, ½ cup | 0.7 | 4 |
| Tomato, raw, 1 medium | 0.7 | 4 |
| Spinach, raw, 1 cup | 0.6 | 4 |
What is Vitamin E and Key Role of Vitamin E to Health
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a key role in preventing cellular injury from oxidative stress associated with premature aging, cataracts, uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and infection.
Vitamin E plays a key role in optimum health:
- – Vitamin E helps reduce risk of developing breast or prostate cancer.
- – Vitamin E helps alleviate menstrual cramping.
- – Vitamin E helps protect against eye degeneration.
- – Vitamin E is involved in immune function.
- – Vitamin E replete endothelial cells lining the interior surface of blood vessels are better able to resist blood-cell components adhering to this surface
- – Vitamin E helps in the regulation of gene expression.
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