There are many healthful substances found in nature and made available for public distribution and use thanks to modern science. For this reason, many supplements are available which could provide particular benefits to your health. It is simply the knowledge and exposure to the right product which could make a difference in the health circumstances of an individual.
To show our readers beneficial products which they might not otherwise see, here we continue our ‘Alphabet Soup’ of Supplements for Bodily Health series with the ‘E’ edition as we work our way through the alphabet. Read on to get a glimpse of the potential benefits of vitamin E, echinacea, and EDTA.
Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) is one of 13 essential vitamins. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that, among other roles, works as an antioxidant to diminish oxidative stress and protect the health of cells. Vitamin E comes in multiple forms, but the form needed by the body is alpha tocopherol. Taking a vitamin E supplement can provide multiple important benefits, some of which can meet the needs of those in certain health circumstances. Vitamin E can help support immunity, reduce inflammation, prevent unwanted blood clots, maintain healthy skin barriers, and protect skin health. The essential nature of vitamin E, and its broad and crucial roles to your health, make it a supplement that could benefit potentially anyone.
Echinacea is a flower native to the midwestern region of the U.S., and Native Americans in the midwestern U.S. started using it as a natural remedy roughly four centuries ago! Multiple species of echinacea exist, but the two most commonly used medicinally are Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia. Echinacea is primarily valued for its benefits to the immune system, particularly by increasing white blood cell production. As a result, echinacea could support the body’s ability to defend against upper respiratory tract infections, and even other types such as urinary and ear infections. It is recommended to take echinacea during the course of an infection. Separately, echinacea could sustain the health of your skin. Some research suggests echinacea could help reduce symptoms of anxiety. This breadth of benefits makes echinacea a worthwhile supplement for general physical health as well as mental wellness.
EDTA, short for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is a synthetic amino acid which can help with the detoxification of heavy metals from the body. Its ability to do this comes from its chelating properties, which enables it to bind to metals. EDTA helps detox heavy metals by binding to positively charged metal ions in the blood, and bringing them to the kidneys, after which they are expelled through urination. Why detox heavy metals? Heavy metals can impair metabolism and cause fatigue, affect cardiovascular health, and stress certain organs. By ingesting EDTA to detox heavy metals from the body, these issues can be mitigated, and your long-term health can benefit.
These three Es – Vitamin E, echinacea, and EDTA – each have distinctly different benefits and applications. How might these apply to you, or someone in your household? It is recommended that you always talk to your healthcare provider before taking a supplement for the first time.