XLWellness

Lose fat, gain wellness.

Benefits of Selenium

Detailed Health Benefits of Selenium

The primary benefits of selenium relate to its action in the production of antioxidants. This role has been linked to a possible reduction of cancer risk in both humans and animals. Selenium is a mineral that can be found in trace amounts in a variety of foods. Supplementation is usually unnecessary and can be dangerous. While most people probably have never heard of selenium the benefits of selenium could make it an important mineral to add to your diet. However, there are a few things you should know about this mineral before considering a supplement.

You can get selenium from eating vegetables, nuts, liver, or other animal tissue. There are extremely small quantities present within the proteins of these foods. These proteins are known as selenoproteins. Selenium is used in the body during the creation of antioxidants which prevent free radical damage to our cells. This is the primary explanation for why selenium can help prevent cancer but that’s not all it has been linked to.

Although no conclusive evidence has been presented yet preliminary tests in both animals and humans show that selenium can reduce your risk of heart disease, neurological problems, infection, and cancer. Also, selenium can prevent or reduce the effect of toxins like mercury and silver.

Some of the other foods known to contain trace amounts of selenium are some fish, cereals, breads, onion, broccoli, garlic, cabbage, tomatoes, beer, eggs, and mushrooms. This is by no means a complete list but it does show that the average person following a healthy diet should get more than enough selenium.

The daily amount of selenium recommended is around 50-200mg but make sure you consult a physician first. Selenium can be toxic if you exceed around 1g of it which can be fatal. A dietitian who is familiar with your diet will be able to tell you if you can safely supplement your diet with selenium or not. Most people who eat lots of vegetables already will not need any kind of supplementation. Remember, selenium can be toxic in large amounts so supplementing a diet already high in it can cause damage to your body.