Health Benefits of Selenium
Health Benefits of Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral naturally found in foods or as a supplement. The body only needs a small amount.
Selenium plays a role in maintaining thyroid hormone metabolism, protecting cell damage and DNA synthesis.
Selenium has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help fight free radicals in the body and may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Selenium also has anti-inflammatory properties.
Selenium may support thyroid health including Hashimoto’s and other types of thyroid diseases but more research is needed.
Selenium may also promote brain health. Selenium may also help boost your immunity. Selenium may help reduce asthma symptoms. Selenium may also promote heart health. Selenium may also help with male infertility.
If you are healthy and eat a well-balanced diet, you probably get enough selenium. You may have low levels of selenium if you smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, consume birth control pills, or have a condition that prevents selenium absorption such as Chron’s disease or ulcerative colitis. People with rheumatoid arthritis or that have certain types of cancer may have low levels of selenium.
The following foods are great sources of selenium: oysters, Brazil nuts, halibut, yellowfin tuna, eggs, sardines, sunflower seeds, chicken breast, and shiitake mushrooms.
Consuming much selenium can be toxic and lethal. The recommended amount of selenium for adults is 55mcg per day. Brazil nuts have a high amount of selenium and therefore consuming too much may lead to selenium toxicity.
Signs of selenium toxicity include hair loss, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, tremors, and muscle soreness. Sever selenium toxicity can lead to serious intestinal and neurological symptoms, heart attack, kidney failure and death.
As always consult with your physician.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/selenium-benefits
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/supplement-guide-selenium
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/selenium/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/selenium-benefits
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287842
https://www.health.com/selenium-benefits-8357334
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/selenium
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1003/selenium