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Page 105
| Above all, it's a valuable source of vitamin E. Most of the vitamin E in wheat is concentrated in the germ layer. Getting even the RDA for vitamin Ewhich many experts consider an insufficient amountfrom food sources can be tough; but one ounce of wheat germ oil provides almost 40 milligrams of the vitamin, close to the 40 to 60 milligrams recommended by many for high antioxidant protection. |
| Vitamin E Power |
| A high vitamin E intake is strongly linked to lower risk of heart disease and stroke. Researchers believe this antioxidant may play a direct role in lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing arteriosclerosis. Experts also theorize that the vitamin E in wheat causes the liver to produce less natural cholesterol. |
| Research backs up these theories: in one study, people with high cholesterol were given 20 grams (about a quarter cup) of wheat germ a day for four weeks. For the next fourteen weeks, they were given 30 grams. At the end of the study, cholesterol levels had dropped by an average of 7 percent. |
| Vitamin E is also closely linked to decreased cancer risk. It helps block free radicals and also stimulates the immune system. It even helps prevent the formation of cancer-causing compounds. |
| Fiber Action |
| Vitamin E has a cancer and heart-disease fighting ally in fiber. Three tablespoons of wheat germ provide 3.9 grams of fiber, more than twice as much as a serving slice of whole wheat bread. Because fiber helps ease constipation, it assists in moving poten- |
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