How Your Body Uses Vitamin E

It is common knowledge that oxygen is one of the most important components to support life. This oxygen is very reactive within certain molecules and this reactivity can be severe enough to cause cellular damage through a process known as oxidative stress. Anti-oxidants counteract this reaction. Vitamin E is classified as an anti-oxidant and helps prevent the aging of cells, or damage to cells.

A fatty substance found in many foods is known as cholesterol. This is absorbed by our bodies and then it is processed by our liver and eventually stored as fat. Cholesterol is carried by Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL).Oxidation of LDL causes a reaction to cholesterol and another fatty substance known as plaque is deposited within the walls of arteries. A buildup of this plaque over time can cause partial or complete blockage of the arteries.

Cholesterol will be prohibited from forming plaque if oxidation can be controlled and Vitamin E helps to prevent the buildup of plaque. Those with coronary problems may need to use Vitamin E supplements to ensure that arteries are not blocked. This plaque buildup can cause high blood pressure and heart attacks.

While Vitamin E has been shown to help in the prevention of circulatory problems, there is also some suggestion that it may help to prevent cancer. While not conclusively proven, Vitamin E is a well-known anti-oxidant that can help your health.

Another benefit of Vitamin E is that it can provide effective protection from UV rays. It can shield the skin from the sun’s harmful rays, and this can help in the prevention of skin cancer.

Vitamin E has also been show to protect against Alzheimer’s disease and the inflammation of the pancreas.

If you are looking for natural sources of Vitamin E, look to fruits and nuts first. Oranges in particular are an excellent source of Vitamin E, and are well known sources of Vitamin C. These benefits can be obtained by eating oranges or drinking orange juice. This is especially true of orange juice that contains pulp.

No matter what your health condition may be, Vitamin E should be an important item in your diet. It is not only found in fruit, but in vegetables as well. If you eat fruits and vegetables regularly, you should easily achieve the recommended 1,000 mg of Vitamin E per day.

If you live in the Greater Houston, Texas area and are concerned about your vitamin intake, call us at PCP for Life and we can provide you with recommendations about your diet and nutrition.

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Muscle Injuries – Sprains and Strains

Your muscles can be injured easily during sports activities or during any significant physical exertion, and the type of injury you may cause to your muscles can be different depending on the type of activity you are involved in and how the injury happened.

Imagine one scenario where a football player is injured during a tackle, and suffers an injury to his calf muscle when a larger player lands on it with significant force.Now imagine an injury suffered during a weightlifting session where someone uses a weight that is too large, and that this participant suffers from sore muscles the following day. These are two very different types of muscle injuries, but both can be very painful and debilitating.

A sprain occurs when muscles are stretched or torn when a joint is contorted into an unnatural position. These most often occur during fast-paced sports, impact sports, or incidents involving a slip and fall or even a car accident. A strain most often occurs when a muscle is flexed beyond its capacity causing stretching or tearing of muscle fibers.

Symptoms of a Sprain
Sprains can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. A mild sprain occurs when a ligament stretches or perhaps sustains slight tears. This is most often accompanied by soreness or tenderness. A moderate sprain involves tearing of ligaments tear partially. This will cause difficult movement and you may experience swelling and possible discoloration of the tissue surrounding the tear. This is most often caused from internal bleeding at the injury site. The most severe type of sprain involves a complete tear, this will be accompanied by severe pain and discomfort, and movement will be very limited. Severe sprains will also exhibit swelling and discoloration. The pain associated with a severe muscle sprain can often be confused with a fracture. This type of injury should be checked out by a physician.

Muscle Strain Symptoms
Strains occur when a muscle is contracted quickly or stretched beyond a muscle’s normal capacity. Strains can be classified as acute or chronic. An acute strain will occur suddenly, most often involving an attempt to lift something heavy, or after a sudden reaction during sports or to avoid a fall down. Chronic strains are very common with athletes who over-use a muscle during workouts or competition. This type of injury is often referred to as a “pulled muscle”.

Treatment for mild sprains and strains can involve rest, and the application of ice to reduce swelling. Anti-inflammatory medications may also help to alleviate pain. More severe muscle tears should be examined by your physician. In most cases, these types of injuries will resolve with an appropriate immobilization of the muscles involved and rest.

If you have a sprain or strain that you are concerned about, contact us at PCP For Life at one of our many convenient locations throughout the greater Houston Texas area.

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