Natural Vitamin E vs. Synthetic Vitamin E

Secretive Supplements: What to know!

A new kind of threat lurks the shelves lined with vitamins and supplements at pharmacies, grocery stores, and health stores. Many people, maybe even yourself among them, ingest or apply these indistinctive products to their skin, hoping for trustworthy improvement of health and appearance as a result. These mystery supplements often facade as vitamins, providing a mask of fake health as marketed by mainstream medical practices and pharmaceutics. Of course, we do believe it is highly important to take your vitamins. But there are some facts you may want to know before making a selection.

Take a moment to consider the vitamins needed to make the body function properly. Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E are often the main ones that come to mind when we think about what nutrients our bodies need to maintain proper systems and healthy functions. We can eat foods or take supplements to ensure a proper intake of our daily dose of vitamins. But one particular nutrient comes in two different forms – synthetic and natural. You may think that they are the same things and perform the same functions, right? Wrong. We will guide you on the differences in function and chemistry so that you can learn the truth about vitamin E, whether natural or synthetic.

 

The Value of Vitamin E

The overall function of natural Vitamin E is to work in multiple systems of the body to improve overall health. It diffuses into fat particles to absorb into the tissues. Commonly available in eggs, fruits, vegetables, oils, and some meats, it offers extensive prevention from multiple conditions that could develop as a result of the general aging process. Without it, many organs would not develop or function properly.

As an antioxidant, it fights free radicals that speed up the aging process and damage cells over time. It can often help lessen the effects of anemia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia, kidney problems, and a whole range of other conditions often associated with inflammation or lack of strengthened cells. It also may make chemotherapy more manageable, and ease the effects of the menstrual cycle in women.

Vitamin E references a group of eight different components, including tocopherols of alpha, gamma, beta, and delta, and tocotrienols of alpha, beta, delta, and gamma. All of these components can benefit the body when compounded correctly by natural means. Their natural makeup allows the body to accept and absorb them more fully into the blood stream and the tissue cells.

 

Insidious Synthetic

So, what is the big deal? If vitamin E can do all that, who cares about whether it is created in a laboratory or occurs naturally in foods? You should care, because the vast differences in both synthetic and natural vitamin E  can make or break your body’s reaction to the vitamin. Pharmacies will market the synthetic version as mostly harmless and just as effective as the natural form. We found evidence that begs to differ.

The lab-crafted version of vitamin E is created from petrochemicals as ingredients. Most of us know what petrochemicals do to harm our skin in skin-care products, so why ingest it? Often listed as tocopheryl acetate, the tocopheryl prefix indicates the vitamin E and the acetate indicates acetic acid. This particular formula is favorited by many mainstream vitamin companies for its stability, cheapness, and ability to last longer than its natural counterpart.

Acetic acid can degrade the surface of the skin, when in its application form. While a synthetic vitamin E supplement contains all eight of the aforementioned isomers, only one is usable by the body. In fact, specific proteins found in the liver will not even recognize synthetic vitamin E’s compounds as it does the natural ones, and will peg them for quick excretion. This quite literally means that the synthetic version does not play as well with your body as the natural version. It does not absorb as easily or in the same quantities as the natural vitamin, and can cause a whole slew of issues.

A study conducted in 1991 found evidence that synthetic vitamins may have some blame for the eruption of contact dermatitis we have seen over the past several years, as it can induce this condition with increased skin sensitivity and irritation. It also enhances the effects of sun damage, and some animal studies show links to the development of tumors. Rated as a moderate hazard by EWG, some evidence even suggests that it may generate carcinogenic activity and toxicity.

It has potential as a human skin toxicant, and some experiments on mammal tissue cells show results with definite and known cell mutation after coming into contact with the substance. As a skin sensitizer, some symptoms to look out for include itching, scaling, burning, hives, and blistering. When considering organ tissues, watch out for the liver, blood, and brain. Synthetic vitamin E is also linked to mutated liver tissue cells, blood clotting, and hemorrhagic stroke.

 

You Need the Natural Version

Naturally occurring vitamin E is often considered superior to its synthetic counterpart – even outside of the potential effects of brain bleeding and mutating liver. While it generally only contains one isomer, all of its components are accepted and absorbed into the body with ease. The proteins in the liver will recognize this form, and bind with it to take into the blood stream for absorption. Natural vitamin E is three times as potent as the synthetic version, and the body will absorb a double amount of it as well.

Generally found in fats and oils, this vitamin will help the body absorb vitamin K. It keeps platelets from sticking together and clogging up arteries, reducing the risk of cardiovascular conditions or heart attacks. It also boosts the body’s immunity and healing processes, allowing skin and other tissues to heal more quickly than tissues deficient in natural vitamin E.

Vitamin E also helps manage issues with the brain, like Alzheimer’s and dementia, because of its tissue healing abilities. As a strong antioxidant, it prevents and slows down many aging processes including multiple forms of degeneration. It also offers protection from multiple cancers and carcinogens. Some evidence also links it with helping manage certain issues that women may encounter, whether from menopause or a menstrual cycle.

 

Say No to Synthetic

You can get a sufficient intake of vitamin E by remembering a few simple things. Educating yourself on the differences will help you steer clear of the synthetic and recognize the natural form. By opting for the natural form, you keep yourself free of yet another synthetically created toxin marketed as an innocent supplement to improve your health.

Remember that most synthetic formulas appear as an ingredient called d1-alpha-tocopherol or all-rac-alpha-tocopherol. Their chemical makeup differs entirely from the natural form, and often gets wasted or excreted. While derived from the natural form, tocopheryl acetate contains added acetic acid – a substance that proves destructive to the surface of the skin. It is a potential irritant and carcinogen. The substance is usually a clear to golden oil sold in either capsules or bottles.

Meantime, the natural version of vitamin E is often listed as RRR-alpha-tocopherol. You can find it in multiple foods like organic spinach, almonds, mango, avocado, and peanut butter. Sufficient amounts of this vitamin will improve the cardiovascular system and circulatory system, while fending off against free radicals. It also slows down the aging process. Natural vitamin E has a darker coloration that resembles the same shade as maple syrup.

 

Revisit Natural Vitamin E with face naturals 

Many of our products contain organic ingredients rich in vitamin E to provide your skin with its own delicious dose. Our Anti-Aging Night Creme contains argan oil, which is richer in vitamin E than olive oil. If you are experiencing itchy stretch marks, the Bloom Calming Belly Balm will offer vitamin E relief through organic shea butter.

For more information about our products, feel free to contact us. We can help you figure out which products work best for your skin type, so that your complexion fits naturally like a well-tailored dress. We look forward to providing for your organic skin care needs. Take a look at our catalogue, and see if our collection of healing botanical ingredients interests you!

 

References

• Benefits of Vitamin E
• Food Sources of Vitamin E
• Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamin E
• Find a Vitamin or Supplement: Vitamin E
• The Average Height and Weight by Age
• Is D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate a Natural Form of Vitamin E?
• Natural vs. Synthetic: Here is The Difference
• Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamin E
• Ingredient Watch List: Tocopheryl Acetate – the Potentially Irritating Form of Vitamin E
• Tocopheryl Acetate
• D1-alpha-tocopherol acetate