A Healing Nutrient Profile: Vitamin E
Dec 18 2020 ・ 5 min read
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents the spread of harmful reactions by free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage your cells.
Your immune system relies on the nutrient to mount a response against bacteria and viruses, and your cells need it to interact with each other and carry out their functions.
The nutrient may help protect against cardiovascular disease, thanks to its antioxidant properties and other talents, such as its ability to widen your blood vessels and prevent blood clots within them. In addition, research is underway to uncover the nutrient’s potential role in preventing cancer, eye disorders (such as macular degeneration and cataracts) and cognitive decline.
How Much Vitamin E Do You Need?
The daily recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin E is:
22.4 IU (15 mg) for adults
28.4 IU (19 mg) for women who are breastfeeding
Where Can You Get Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is found in fortified cereals, nuts, fruits and vegetables, but the richest sources are vegetable oils. Vitamin E is actually more easily absorbed in meals with some fat. So if you’re on a low-fat diet, you may not be getting enough of the nutrient. Your doctor or a nutritionist may suggest that you increase your intake of plant-based foods that contain vitamin E, such as nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.
Some of our favorite foods that contain substantial amounts of vitamin E:
Sunflower seeds, dry roasted Serving Size: 1/4 cup Amount of Vitamin E: 8.4
Almonds Serving Size: 24 nuts (1 oz) Amount of Vitamin E: 7.4 mg
Spinach, cooked Serving Size: 1 cup Amount of Vitamin E: 6.7 mg
Safflower oil Serving Size: 1 Tbsp Amount of Vitamin E: 4.6 mg
Canned sardines in oil 1 cup, drained Amount of Vitamin E: 3.0 mg
Canola oil Serving Size: 1 Tbsp Amount of Vitamin E: 2.4 mg
Red peppers, raw Serving Size: 1 cup Amount of Vitamin E: 2.4 mg
Asparagus, cooked Serving Size: 1 cup Amount of Vitamin E: 2.2 mg
Avocado ¼ avocado Amount of Vitamin E: 2.0 mg
Mango Serving Size: 1 whole Amount of Vitamin E: 1.9 mg
Canned salmon Serving Size: 3 oz Amount of Vitamin E: 1.8 mg
Peanut butter Serving Size: 1 Tbsp Amount of Vitamin E: 1.4 mg
You can look up the vitamin E content of other foods by referencing the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
If you don’t get enough vitamin E from food, supplementation is another option. There is concern that high doses of vitamin E supplements could contribute to hemorrhagic stroke and, in men, prostate cancer, so talk to your doctor or nutritionist about whether you really need to supplement and, if so, how high a dose is right for you.