Smoking is one of the well-known hazardous habits that affect our health, and quitting smoking can significantly improve our overall well-being.
However, smoking cessation involves increased levels of stress on our body which is why our body requires additional nutrients to restore itself. One such essential nutrient is Vitamin E, which offers great benefits to the body that especially help after quitting smoking.
What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that occurs naturally in some foods. It is an essential vitamin that plays a significant role in the proper functioning of many organs in our body and has several known benefits.
The benefits of Vitamin E are related primarily to its antioxidant properties, which protect the body against the harmful effects of free radicals.
What are the benefits of Vitamin E?
Vitamin E has several benefits for anyone, whether they smoke or not. The benefits of Vitamin E include:.
1. Reduced inflammation
Vitamin E has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, which can help with conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. It is thought that Vitamin E works by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory molecules in the body.
2. Improved skin health
Vitamin E helps to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, which are produced when the skin is exposed to UV radiation from the sun or environmental pollutants.
It also helps to moisturize the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Strengthened immune system
Vitamin E plays a critical role in supporting the immune system, protecting our cells from damage have a crucial role in preventing chronic disease.
4. Improved eye health
Vitamin E is crucial in protecting the eyes from harmful oxidative damage. It can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, both of which can cause vision loss.
How Vitamin E Helps After Quitting Smoking
When a person quits smoking, their body is subjected to a variety of stresses. Free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage cells, are among these stressors.
When a person smokes, they inhale a significant quantity of these free radicals, putting additional strain on their body’s antioxidant defences. Vitamin E supplements can help repair damaged cells and fight the inflammation caused by oxidative stress.
1. Helps Lower The Risk of Heart Disease
Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, defending the body against free radical damage. It functions by preventing the oxidation of cholesterol in your blood. Oxidised cholesterol is one of the primary factors contributing to heart disease.
When people quit smoking, their risk of developing heart disease can drop dramatically. Taking a Vitamin E supplement after quitting smoking can further reduce this risk.
2. Helps Reduce Inflammation in Your Lungs
When you smoke, you inhale chemicals like nicotine and tar, which irritate and inflame your lungs. However, studies have shown that Vitamin E may help reduce inflammation in the airways.
Vitamin E supplements have been shown to reduce this inflammation even further. This can help to protect against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
3. Helps Promote Healthy Skin
Smoking can accelerate the ageing of your skin and cause wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of ageing. Quitting smoking can help to improve the look and feel of your skin, but it takes time.
Vitamin E can aid in promoting healthy skin, reversing the damage caused by smoking, and reducing the risk of skin cancer. It can also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Helps Promote Brain Health
The brain is particularly vulnerable to free radicals, which can harm neurons and impair cognitive function.
Several studies have found that Vitamin E supplements can improve cognitive function in older adults by preventing oxidative damage to the brain. After quitting smoking, supplementing with Vitamin E may help to protect and repair the brain from the oxidative damage caused by smoking.
How much should you take?
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Vitamin E is 15 mg per day for adults, and the upper limit is 1,000 mg per day. However, most people can get enough Vitamin E from their diet alone.
If you are considering taking a Vitamin E supplement after quitting smoking, be sure to talk to your doctor first. Taking high doses of Vitamin E supplements can be harmful, so it’s essential to ask your doctor for advice before starting to supplement.
The Bottom Line
Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, but it puts your body under stress. Taking supplements can help your body to heal and repair faster.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that offers several benefits for those who quit smoking, including reducing the risk of heart disease, reducing inflammation in the lungs, promoting healthy skin, and improving cognitive function. If you’re considering taking a Vitamin E supplement to support your body after quitting smoking, be sure to talk to your doctor first.