A new study by researchers in Finland has found that older adults with high levels of vitamin E in their blood were less likely to have a memory disorder than elderly individuals with lower vitamin E levels, suggesting that vitamin E is good for active senior living.
The research started by examining 140 Finnish adults 65 years or older who did not have a memory impairment. During a follow-up study eight years later, the higher the vitamin E serum levels, the less likely that someone would have trouble with their memory. What is important about this study is that it is the first to show that all eight types of vitamin E – not just a-tocopherol – play a roll in memory processes.
Researchers have long-known that vitamin E is an antioxidant that can remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals are damaging to the cells and are caused by exposure to cigarette smoke, environmental toxins, excessive UV rays and other things. Aside from being an important antioxidant, vitamin E is good for cardiovascular health and the immune system, and it is also often included on lists of anti-aging tips as a remedy for scarred skin.
Talk to your doctor to see if your diet needs more vitamin E. It is possible to get too much of this antioxidant, so it’s important to speak to a physician before taking a supplement or upping your daily intake. But if you do need more vitamin E in your diet, here are some foods that supply it:
- Peanut butter
- Dry-roasted hazelnuts
- Almonds
- Sunflower seeds
- Kiwi
- Chopped and boiled broccoli
- Spinach
- Safflower and sunflower oil
- Mango
- Raw tomato
- Raw spinach
- Wheat germ oil
