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Head-to-Toe Health and More with Selenium

November 12th, 2007

Last week, I posted about the mercury detox program my doctor put me on.

Part of the mercury detox program included supplementation with Selenium. I found this information below on Selenium which explains why Selenium is so vital for our health. In many countries, including Australia and China, the soils have been depleted of Selenium and so it’s no longer in our locally produced food which means that many of us are not getting enough of this essential nutrient. Brazil nuts are an unusually high natural source of Selenium. I keep a container of Brazil nuts in my pantry and make sure that I have 1 - 2 a day.

Please enjoy the following article.

Kerri

Head-to-Toe Health and More with Selenium

Minerals also perform specific functions within the body like the vitamins. Some minerals are so important that you could develop a serious health condition, if these minerals are insufficient. Despite the fact that most minerals are allied with a single bodily function, there are exceptions. Selenium is one such exception that can offer benefits of good health for your entire body.

Selenium gives you the gift of healthy hair, skin, and eyes. Selenium works hand in hand with antioxidants to help lower the count of free radicals in the system. It is also been proven beneficial in regulating the thyroid and immune system. Selenium makes you feel energized and healthy. Selenium produces antibodies, and therefore strengthens your immune system and enables you to fight back infections, viral and toxic invaders that can result in serious illness.

Selenium even provides protection against cancer. And the best part of the story is that when selenium is doing all of this, you are not even aware of it. There is a good chance that you are acquiring sufficient selenium, if you consume plant food, seafood, and meats on a regular basis. Scientists have also discovered that selenium not only prevents cancer but it also treats cancer.

Although the studies are relatively new and selenium has been found effective in killing cancer cells in prostate cancer, there are promises that state that it may help treat other forms of cancers too. This is really a gift to the millions of people who are suffering from one of the 200 types of cancer.

As said earlier, studies about selenium being beneficial in cancer prevention are new and now scientists are spending a significant amount of time researching other possible benefits of this nutrient. In basic terms, cancer is a malfunction in the body’s normal making of growth cells. Studies of selenium indicate that this mineral may offer cancer-prevention benefits.

It is very unlikely for someone to develop a selenium deficiency, since the body only requires a small amount (about 60 micrograms). Nevertheless, you have to make sure that you get sufficient selenium regularly. Your heart can weaken if you develop a selenium deficiency. [KERRI - Selenium deficiency is rare in the US but is possible in countries that do not have selenium in the soil such as Australia and China]

As always, it is a good idea to discuss your concerns with your doctor and go ahead with selenium supplementation only with their approval. But be sure to follow your doctor’s recommended directions. Too much selenium (more than 200 micrograms) can be toxic and cause serious illnesses.

Jean Helmet is one of the editors at a collection of nutritional web sites, We offer a free health book for subscribers to our websites newsletter.

We cover everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your health. Make sure you check out our free nutrition e-book, for more information on the supplements we use with excellent health results.

Just a bit more about Brazil nuts…

Brazil nuts are the number one source of the mineral selenium, which helps maintain your mood and prevent depression. Although scientists haven’t figured out exactly how, it seems that selenium is essential for maintaining a happy mood — it’s so important that when the body’s stock is being run down, the brain is the last organ to give up its stash. These crunchy little dudes are also packed with vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc. B vitamins and magnesium are involved in the production of serotonin, which helps regulate mood and relieve stress. Zinc has also been shown to fight some of the negative effects of stress, while vitamin E is an antioxidant that destroys the free radicals related to stress and heart disease.

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Entry Filed under: Health & Vitality