Vitamin E-infused supplements are top-rated, so let’s go over the benefits of vitamin E oil. The benefits are well known among the homoeopathic community as well as the scientific community – it boosts hair growth and protects hair and skin. The best sources are; sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and avocados.
Vitamin E is not actually a single vitamin, but it is a group of fat-soluble vitamins that have proven antioxidant effects – tocopherols and tocotrienols. There are eight naturally occurring vitamin E forms: alpha, beta, gamma and delta forms of tocopherol and tocotrienol.
Just like the immune-boosting vitamin C, Vitamin E can also act as a powerful antioxidant that helps the body fight infections. It plays an integral role in keeping your immune system functioning properly. High-fat plant foods that include vitamin E are almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, oils such as sunflower, safflower or soybean and hazelnuts.
Vitamin E oil can be applied directly to the skin or added to lotions, creams, and gels you can get at most health shops.
Benefits of Vitamin E
Vitamin E oil is believed to have anti-ageing properties, so many skincare adverts proclaim it. Vitamin E supplements also prevent coronary heart disease and offer immune support function.
Other benefits include preventing inflammation, promoting eye health, and lowering cancer risk. However, the research on these benefits varies, and vitamin E supplementation is unsuitable for everyone.
Skin
A 2013 study found that mice exposed to large quantities of ultraviolet light, who ingested vitamin E supplements, were less likely to develop skin cancer. These results prompted some supporters of vitamin E oil and supplements to claim they can prevent skin cancer.
Additional skin benefits include itchiness and moisturising dry skin. Vitamin E may alleviate the dryness, itching, and flaking associated with eczema or atopic dermatitis.
Vitamin E oil is also used to reduce the appearance of blemishes, scars and dark marks associated with ageing and sun damage.
Strong, Shiny Nails
Most nail hardeners contain a fair amount of vitamin E. Vitamin E supplementation helps prevent yellow nail syndrome, and treats peeling, cracked, and yellowing nails.
Vitamin E oil’s moisturising benefits may also support nail health by preventing cracked cuticles and dry skin around the nail bed.
Other Vitamins and Minerals To Have!
Your diet is essential in keeping your immune system in top shape, especially when protecting us from toxins and infections. Many of us don’t eat enough fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods needed to stay healthy throughout the year.
Within those healthy foods, we can find vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, it does not take one orange, a grapefruit or a single vitamin pill to provide us with a burst of Vitamin C to prevent sickness or boost our immune system.
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) helps the immune system because it reduces inflammation and any damage to the lungs.
- Foods high in vitamin B3:
- chicken,
- meats,
- fish,
- grains,
- beans,
- legumes and nuts.
Folate (natural) or folic acid (synthetic) is added to foods to benefit our health. Studies have shown that folate/folic acid can prevent respiratory infections in children. For more folate, add more beans and lentils to your diet. Leafy green vegetables and avocadoes are also tasty sources of folate. Folic acid can be found in fortified foods such as enriched pasta, bread and rice.
Certain probiotic strains have shown, in certain situations, that they can prevent upper respiratory tract infections. Foods that are filled with probiotic nutrients include yoghurt and fermented milk.
Iron
Iron helps the body carry oxygen to cells, therefore playing a part in the immune system processes. It does come in different forms, but the body can more easily absorb heme iron, which is iron from animal products, such as red meat, chicken, turkey, canned sardines, oysters, clams, and mussels and canned light tuna. Vegetarians can find iron in beans, broccoli, kale and iron-fortified cereals.
Another infection preventative, which has a powerful effect on the immune system, is Selenium. The best sources of Selenium come from animal foods. However, Brazil nuts are an exception and offer 100% daily value of Selenium in one nut. Too many of these nuts can become a problem, and a limit of two a day is sufficient. Selenium can also be found in seafood, meat, liver, poultry and cottage cheese.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for producing new immune system cells and is primarily found in animal foods but also vegetarian food. Oysters, crab, lean meats and poultry, baked beans, yoghurt and chickpeas are examples of this food.
If you cannot find any of the fresh foods, opt for the frozen choices. Frozen food helps boost your immune system; they are packed with a similar nutritional value as its fresh counterparts. It is best to choose plain frozen foods than those with added sugars or sodium.
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