We’ve long known the remarkable healing properties of Vitamin E. These include (but aren’t limited to): • Delivering powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals • Preventing LDL oxidation and thus warding off heart disease • Protecting cell membranes and DNA from oxidative damage Yet while the properties of Vitamin E are general, the forms of Vitamin E can differ. Let’s look at this interesting point in more detail. There are two forms of Vitamin E available in stores: gamma tocopherol and alpha tocopherol. Gamma is found in soy. Alpha in olive oil and nuts. These two forms of vitamin E work differently. Gamma tocopherol is required to trap and neutralize existing free radicals while alpha tocopherol inhibits new free radical formation. For optimal health you need to take both forms. There are synthetic and natural forms of alpha tocopherol. The synthetic variety is manufactured in a laboratory, and can be identified by its chemical name dl-alpha tocopherol. On the other hand, the natural form is not manufactured from synthetic ingredients, and can be identified by simply a “d” in the front: d-alpha tocopherol acetate or d-alpha tocopheryl succinate. And what if your bottle of Vitamin E doesn’t have any letters to help you identify its source? Chances are, if you don’t see any letters at all, it’s probably synthetic. Most health professionals – including me – recommend the natural form of Vitamin E. In particular, I recommend taking the succinate form of alpha tocopherol, in a dosage of 400 IU, just before going to sleep. In doing this, your body will invest some quality time fighting off free radicals while you sleep. This is particularly helpful for those who exercise during the day, since exercise can indeed create some free radicals. The result? You’ll feel more refreshed and ready for exercise the next morning!