2. Introduction
โข In an earlier article, I explained the role
vitamins and minerals play in the smoking
cessation process. In this article, I want to
explain the role vitamin E, plays in the quit
smoking process. Enjoy it!
3. What is Vitamin E?
โข Vitamin E is a fat-soluble Vitamin that functions
primarily as an antioxidant. It is stored in the liver
and fat deposits in the body. Vitamin E is found
naturally in some foods, added to others, and
available as a dietary supplement.
โข According to Vaughnโs Summaries, taking
Vitamin E supplements might not be necessary to
attain high Vitamin E levels in the bloodstream,
since the nutrient can be gotten through food.
4. Sources of Vitamin E
โข Many natural foods contain Vitamin E but cooking
or preservation of foods leads to the loss of this
vital Vitamin. So, the best way to get the full
health benefits of this health-promoting element
is to eat foods rich in Vitamin E and other useful
nutrients as fresh as possible. From all
indications, the leading source of Vitamin E is
breakfast cereal, followed by vegetables and nuts,
and then vegetable oils, pie and chips, fish, and
then fruit. Rich sources of Vitamin E include but
are not limited to the following:
5. Sources of Vitamin E(2)
โข Wheat germ
โข Vegetable oils
โข Mustard Greens
โข Nuts
โข Corn
โข Seeds (like sunflower seeds)
โข Kale and Collard Greens
โข Green leafy vegetables (like broccoli and spinach)
โข Tomatoes and Almonds
6. General Benefits of Vitamin E to the Human Body
โข Vitamin E assists the body to build red blood
corpuscles and strengthens the immune system
to battle and fend off germs and viruses.
โข Even though research has not confirmed that
vitamin E supplements actually help to prevent
symptoms of aging, cancer and heart disease,
researchers believe that Vitamin E helps to
protect us from aging, heart disease and cancer
7. General Benefits of Vitamin E to the Human Body(2)
โข In fact, studies suggest that taking too much
vitamin E may be hazardous to our overall
health. It is therefore best to obtain your
vitamin E by consuming a well-rounded and
balanced diet.
โข Vitamin E also boosts the bodyโs defense
against the free radical harm to the lungs
when we inhale cigarette smoke and polluted
air. Vitamin E is a very powerful antioxidant.
8. How Does Vitamin E Help Quit
Smoking?
โข Cigarette smoke is a blend of over 4,000
chemical substances; some of which are toxic
and cancer-causing. These poisonous
elements place practically every internal organ
at risk each time we smoke. They include
chemicals like: carbon monoxide, benzene,
arsenic and other poisonous elements.
9. How Does Vitamin E Help Quit
Smoking?(2)
โข Cigarette smoke creates loads of free radicals
that can damage our cells and deplete
essential vitamins and minerals in our bodies.
Smokers lose Vitamin E from tissues in the
body while the regenerative effect of vitamin
C on vitamin E suffers when cigarette smoke
comes into contact with the body.
10. Between Cigarette Smoking, Free Radicals and
Antioxidants
โข Cigarette smoking boosts the production of
free radicals which can wreck havoc on
healthy tissues and even genetic material.
Free radicals are atoms or molecules
manufactured by the body to support the
metabolic processes, like digestion and the
conversion of food into usable energy. Even
though valuable for natural procedures, a
profusion of free radicals in the blood stream
can cause health problems.
11. Between Cigarette Smoking, Free Radicals and
Antioxidants(2)
โข The bodyโs defense system uses antioxidants to
combat the damage caused by free radicals.
Research has indicated upwards of 4,000
antioxidants; some of which the human body
produces naturally, while others originate from
the foods and beverages we consume.
โข Vitamin C and vitamin E are powerful
antioxidants that help battle irritation and
poisons in the body. They are vital to a strong and
healthy immune system.
12. What Causes Oxidative Stress or
Damage?
โข Oxidative stress or damage arises when the body
has too many free radicals and not enough
antioxidants. It is said to play a part in the
development of a host of illnesses, including
heart disease and the dreaded C (cancer).
โข Whichever way you look at it, breathing in
cigarette smoke, either firsthand through a lit
cigarette or secondhand from smoke moving
about in the air is hazardous to human health.
13. What Causes Oxidative Stress or
Damage?(2)
โข Even though scientists are still researching the
make-up of cigarette smoke, itโs been proven that
smoking leads to vitamin depletion, a situation
which reduces our bodyโs capacity to deal with
the toxins in cigarette smoke. This may expose us
to the illnesses that arise as a result of tobacco
use. New studies at the Linus Pauling Institute at
Oregon State University (OSU) confirm this. The
studies stated as a matter-of-fact that Vitamin E
depletion through cigarette smoking leads to
huge health risks.
14. What Causes Oxidative Stress or
Damage?(3)
โข The studies further revealed that Vitamin E
evaporates more rapidly in smokers than in non-
smokers. This may help clarify how smoking can
cause cancer and how the loss of defensive
antioxidant vitamins (like Vitamins C and E) can
hasten the process.
โข The research, made available in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, also showed how
inadequate Vitamin C levels can cause faster
depletion of Vitamin E.
15. What Causes Oxidative Stress or
Damage?(4)
โข The researchers indicated that even though
plants can generate more vitamin E to protect
themselves when under a lot of stress, human
beings do not have the capability to do so.
They therefore get the nutrient from their
food or diet. While trying to get the nutrient
from food, if the body comes into constant
contact with cigarette smoke, it places it (the
body) in a state of constant oxidative stress; a
situation which can lead to a host of diseases.
16. What Causes Oxidative Stress or
Damage?(5)
โข For effective protection, the OSU researchers
say vitamin E must be in the bloodstream
before free radical damage comes about.
Endeavour to always eat a diet with the right
Vitamin E quantity because this Vitamin
cannot be consumed later and expected to fix
all the harm.
17. Vitamin E Reduces the Risk of
Prostrate Cancer
โข Another study, published in the February 15,
2006 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer
Institute found that vitamin E brought down the
risk of contracting prostate cancer among men
who smoke cigarettes but didnโt influence risks
amongst non-smokers. On the whole,
investigations on vitamin E and prostate cancer
have recorded varied results. More research is
necessary to ascertain if vitamin E assists men
who already have prostate cancer.
18. Vitamin E Prevents Heart Attacks and
Lung Cancer
โข As an antioxidant, Vitamin E is said to prevent
heart attacks. Cigarette smoking places the heart
under massive stress but Vitamin E can prevent
the heart from a total knock down. This is
especially important to smokers as Vitamin E
protects their heart from shutting down. Aside
from preventing heart attacks, Vitamin Eโs
antioxidant properties can also assist to reduce
harm to the respiratory system by keeping your
arteries and lungs clear. It also helps to prevent
lung cancer.
19. Vitamin E Reduces Smoking-Related
Tumours
โข Amongst several other functions, Vitamin E helps
cells of the body communicate effectively with
each other: thereby reducing the risk of smoking-
related lung tumors. In a study published 2008 in
Biomed Central Cancer, mice that were placed on
vitamin E supplements manifested a significantly
reduced occurrence of lung tumors. Furthermore,
fewer cell fatalities and chromosome damage was
seen in their lung tissue.
20. Conclusion
โข All in all, Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant
that you need in your stop smoking journey.
And since itโs been established that smokers
have poor levels of vitamin E in their
bloodstream than non-smokers, itโs vital to
include this vitamin to your diet as you try to
kick the smoking habit. It will not only boost
the strength of your respiratory system, it will
also assist you battle free radicals that invade
your system as a result of cigarette smoking.