How Does Vitamin E Preserve the Integrity of Cellular Function?

You can’t overstate the importance of healthy cells. Many scientists argue that cellular health is the single most important component of overall bodily health. The problem is, cells are bombarded by internal and external stressors on a daily basis—harmful free radicals among them.

If you’re looking to give your body the best defense against premature aging and disease, inhibiting free radical production is an important step. Read on to learn more about how Vitamin E fights free radicals and promotes the well-being of your entire body, one cell at a time.

The role of cells and their function

Cells are the most basic components of all living organisms, and the human body is filled with as many as 724 trillion of them. They provide structure for every body, taking in nutrients from food and converting them into energy. Cells also form tissues that, in turn, group together to form vital organs like the lungs, the heart and the brain.

Cells can be further broken down into their individual parts, with each part serving a distinct function. These parts are called organelles, and they perform specific tasks within the cell like creating proteins, ridding cells of toxic substances and housing DNA, among other key functions.

Generally, the longevity of cells in a body directly relates to that body’s ability to cope with internal and external stresses. Cells are resilient, but they’re not immune to damage from heat, radiation, poor nutrient supply and other stressors, including oxidative stress caused by an overabundance of free radicals.

Oxidative stress and its impact on cell signaling

Oxidative stress takes a major toll on the health of cells throughout the body. It’s caused by an overabundance of free radicals that can multiply if the body doesn’t have an adequate defense against them.

Oxidative stress causes structural damage in healthy cells, but it also changes the signaling process, damaging cells, proteins and DNA and contributing to premature aging, as well as a range of health concerns, including cancer, diabetes, a weakened immune system and Alzheimer’s disease—among other serious issues.

Keeping free radicals in check and reducing the chance for oxidative stress to take hold in the body is a helpful defense against serious health concerns.

Vitamin E as a free radical scavenger

Studies suggest that preventing oxidative stress from occurring in the body may be as simple as maintaining an adequate daily Vitamin E intake. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient that’s stored in tissues throughout the body, released whenever the presence of free radicals is detected. By stopping free radicals in their tracks and limiting their impact on healthy cells, Vitamin E provides an effective defense against oxidative stress.

Healthy adults should maintain adequate Vitamin E intake, around 15mg per day, to promote healthy cells and reduce the risk of oxidative stress.

Stable cells are happy (and productive) cells

Why is cellular health so important? To start, the health of your cells directly impacts your body day after day. The health of every single cell in your body has an effect on your overall health. Cellular health is basically overall health on a microscopic level, affecting how you feel in your daily life. The ways your body functions, repairs itself and produces new tissue all comes back to cellular health.

This makes it critically important to protect against oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Free radicals directly damage cells, making them the root cause of cellular degradation. When it comes to health and wellness, treating the root cause is always preferred, as opposed to battling symptoms. Resolving root cause factors is one step closer to resolving the condition itself—whatever disease or illness oxidative damage may manifest as.

Protecting cellular health, one electron at a time

How can you protect your cells from oxidative damage and other stressors that may do them harm? A healthy diet—one that provides your body with all essential nutrients on a daily basis—is essential for good cellular health. Keep in mind that age is a factor, so it’s even more important to maintain a healthy diet as you get older. Make sure you receive an adequate recommended daily intake of all vitamins, including Vitamin E, to keep cells healthy and ready to respond whenever they’re threatened.

If you’re interested in boosting the amount of Vitamin E you get in your diet, add more leafy green vegetables, all-natural pressed oils, nuts and fatty fish into your menu. You could also consider a supplement if you can’t get enough Vitamin E from diet alone. Always discuss with your doctor and choose an organic supplement for best results.


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