Vitamin E, Alpha-tocopherol, Fat Soluble, Antioxidant And Healer

Posted by Viola Woolcott

Vitamin E, also known as Alpha-tocopherol (which is the ONLY NATURAL form) is a fat soluble Vitamin. It stores in the body until it is needed, which means you don’t need to take it every day.

It acts as an antioxidant Vitamin and helps your body by neutralising potentially damaging free radicals, which have been known to support the development of cancer and cardiovascular disease as well as being very important in the safeguarding of cell membranes to protect them against the effects of dangerous free radicals also.

Vitamin E offers many more health benefits for your body. It aids in keeping your skin and heart, circulation and muscles, nerves as well as your red blood cells healthy. It can slow down aging and is a great healer for burns and wounds, after surgery, (only apply on closed wounds), topically on scars and other injuries. Muscle strength improves and it is useful in the treatment of fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, as well as painful or excessive menstruation.

Free radicals are stimulated during regular exercise, so Vitamin E should be taken on a regular basis. Being a natural anticoagulant, it even offers some protection against heart disease and some forms of stroke.

Vitamin E has also been known to alleviate respiratory problems as well as boosting the immune system, therefore fighting off infectious diseases.

If you suffer with Vitamin E deficiency, some symptoms may include the lack of vitality, disinterest in sexual performance, irritability, sensitivity, reduction in physical activity, neurological and reproductive problems as well as muscle weakness and maybe even depression.

Vitamin E has very low toxicity if taken in larger doses, so pregnant and breast-feeding women should avoid mega- doses.

By eating a varied, balanced and healthy diet, you should get the amount of Vitamin E you need. Some good sources are nuts and seeds, whole-wheat flour, wheat-germ, green leafy vegetables, avocados, vegetable oils and spinach.

Vitamin K, Fat Soluble, Beneficial For Osteoporosis And Blood Clotting

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble Vitamin and as it stores in the body until it is needed, there is no need to take it on a daily basis.

It can be found naturally in two forms:

=> K 1 – phylloquinone – found in plants

=> K 2 – menaquinone – synthesized by many bacteria

(There is also Vitamin K 3 – menadione, which is a manmade form)

Vitamin K, long known for its critical role in blood clotting, it has a number of important functions. It is essential for synthesising the liver protein that controls the clotting. It also helps heal wounds properly as it is needed for the blood clotting. There has been increasing evidence that Vitamin K is also beneficial in the repair and development of building strong bones.

With the presence of cultured milk such as yoghurt in your diet, the function of the intestine producing Vitamin K is improved. The intestines are also the place where the Vitamin aids to convert glucose to glycogen which then will be stored in the liver.

There have been indications that Vitamin K decreases incidences or even severity of osteoporosis as well as slowing down bone loss.

With normal dietary intake toxicity does not easily happen unless the synthetic compound of Vitamin K 3 is taken. After taking high doses of the toxic synthetic form can include symptoms like flushing and sweating and in some cases Jaundice and anemia may develop.

Before you take a Vitamin K supplement consult your medical practitioner if you are also taking anti-coagulants, which prevent blood clotting.

Air pollution, radiation and freezing can destroy the nutrients in Vitamin K.

High Vitamin intake of Vitamin E, calcium, mineral oil, excessive refined sugar, rancid fats and antibiotics may decrease the absorption of Vitamin K.

In the last stages of pregnancy Vitamin K should be taken with caution, as it could be toxic for the baby.

You should be able to get all the Vitamins and Nutrients your body acquires from a good, healthy and balanced diet.

Good sources of Vitamin K include:

Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, spinach, Vegetable oils, cheese, liver, asparagus and green tea.

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