what is vitamin e?
vitamin e is a fat soluble vitamin and a well known antioxidant, meaning it helps protect the body's cells from oxidative stress caused by everyday processes such as metabolism and exposure to environmental factors. sunflower seeds are among the richest natural dietary sources of vitamin e.
its role in the body
vitamin e's main recognised role is contributing to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. because vitamin e is fat soluble, it's best absorbed when eaten alongside a source of dietary fat, which happens naturally with seeds and nuts, since they contain their own healthy fats. vitamin e is often discussed in relation to skin health and general cellular wellbeing, and while topical vitamin e products are common, getting enough through the diet is the more evidence based route to supporting the body's antioxidant defences from within.
good dietary sources
- sunflower seeds and sunflower oil
- almonds and other nuts
- vegetable oils such as olive and rapeseed oil
- avocado and leafy green vegetables, in smaller amounts
things to consider
because vitamin e is fat soluble, it can be stored in the body's fat tissue, which means very high intakes over long periods, usually from concentrated supplements rather than food, are more likely to build up than with water soluble vitamins. high dose vitamin e supplements have also been associated with a mild blood thinning effect in some people, so anyone taking blood thinning medication should discuss supplement use with their doctor. getting vitamin e from whole foods like sunflower seeds is generally considered a safe and effective approach for most people, without the risks associated with very high dose supplementation.
the takeaway
vitamin e is a key antioxidant vitamin with an important protective role for the body's cells, and sunflower seeds are one of the easiest and most natural ways to include more of it in everyday meals.