Vitamin E

Vitamin E is important for all-round health as Vitamin E is one of our strongest defences against free radical damage, and is for this reason it is referred as an antioxidant. For example, just as oxygen causes potatoes to go brown when cut up and exposed to air, it also causes oxidation and the formation of free radicals in our bodies.

Smokers are especially a high risk for vitamin E deficiency, as smoking destroys vitamin E in the lungs.  You can get your daily vitamin E from foods - the main sources are polyunsaturated oils - canola, corn, sunflower and soybean- and foods containing these oils including avocadoes, nuts, seeds, some margarines and wheat germ, as well as meat, fish and a few vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli but in smaller amounts.