Selenium benefits a lot. Selenium is a mineral found in soils. Selenium is naturally present in water and some foods. Although people only need very small amounts, selenium plays a major role in metabolism.
Why do people take selenium?
Selenium has attracted attention because of its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect cells from damage. Evidence that selenium supplements been mixed can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, but most studies suggest there is no real benefit. Selenium does not seem to affect the risk of colorectal or lung cancer.
Selenium deficiency is uncommon among healthy people in the United States. However, some health conditions such as HIV, Crohn’s disease, and others are related to low selenium levels. People who are breastfed also have a lower risk of low selenium. Physicians sometimes suggest that people in these situations use selenium supplements.
Selenium has also been studied to treat dozens of conditions. These range from asthma to dandruff to infertility but the results have been illegal.
Selenium Benefits for Health
Important for thyroid health
Selenium is important for the proper management of your thyroid gland. In fact, thyroid tissue contains more selenium than any other organ in the human body.
This powerful mineral helps protect the thyroid against oxidative damage and plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones.
A healthy thyroid gland is important because it regulates your metabolism and regulates growth and development. Selenium deficiency is related to thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a type of hypothyroidism where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
An observational study involving more than 20,000,000 people found that low serum levels of selenium were associated with an increased risk of autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism. Furthermore, some studies have shown that selenium supplements can benefit people with Hashimoto’s disease.
One review concluded that taking selenium supplements daily for three months resulted in lower thyroid antibodies. It improved the mood and general well-being of people with Hashimoto’s disease.
Increases your immunity
Your immune system keeps your body healthy by identifying and fighting your potential threats. These include bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Selenium plays an important role in the health of your immune system. These antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress in your body which reduces inflammation and boosts immunity.
Studies have shown that blood levels of selenium are involved in the increased immune response. On the other hand, deficiency has been shown to impair the activity of immune cells and may slow down their resistance.
Studies have linked deficits with increased risk of death and disease in HIV-infected individuals, while supplements have led to fewer hospitalizations and improved symptoms for these patients.
Additionally, selenium supplements can help strengthen the immune system in people with influenza, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C.
May help reduce asthma symptoms
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways that carry air in or out of the lungs. These airways become swollen and narrow, leading to symptoms such as sores, sores, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.
Asthma has been linked to increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. Due to the ability of selenium to reduce inflammation, some research suggests that this mineral may help reduce asthma-related symptoms.
Research suggests that people with asthma have lower blood selenium. In fact, one study found that lung function was better in asthma patients with high levels of selenium in the blood than in low-level patients. Selenium supplements can also help reduce asthma-related symptoms.
For example, a study found that giving 200 ml of selenium per day to people with asthma reduced the use of corticosteroid actions used to control their symptoms.
Acts as a powerful antioxidant
Antioxidants are compounds in foods that prevent cell damage due to free radicals. Free radicals are a natural byproduct of metabolic processes that occur in your body every day.
These often get a bad rap but free radicals are essential for your health. They perform important functions, including protecting your body from disease.
However, factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and stress can be additional causes of free radicals. This leads to oxidative stress, which damages healthy cells.
Oxidative stress has been linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer, as well as premature aging and stroke risk. Antioxidants like selenium help reduce oxidative stress by monitoring free radical numbers. They neutralize excess free radicals and protect cells from damage by oxidative stress.
Can reduce your risk of certain cancers
In addition to reducing oxidative stress, selenium can help reduce the risk of certain cancers. It has been implicated in selenium’s ability to reduce DNA damage and oxidative stress, boost immunity, and destroy cancer cells.
A study of 9 studies that included more than 35,000 people found that high levels of selenium in the blood reduced the risk of certain types of cancer, including breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancer.
It is noteworthy that this effect was only associated with selenium obtained through food, not supplementation. However, some studies have suggested that supplementation with selenium may reduce side effects in people taking radiation therapy.
For example, one study found that oral selenium supplements improved overall quality of life and reduced radiation-induced diarrhea in women with uterine and cervical cancer.
Can protect against heart disease
A diet rich in selenium can help keep your heart healthy, as low selenium levels have been linked to a risk of heart disease. In the analysis of 25 observational studies, a 50% increase in blood selenium levels was associated with a 24% reduction in heart disease risk.
Selenium can also reduce the signs of inflammation in your body: – One of the main risk factors for heart disease. For example, a review of 16 controlled studies involving more than 433,000 people with heart disease found that taking selenium supplements reduced inflammatory C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
Additionally, it has increased levels of glutathione peroxidase, a powerful antioxidant. This indicates that selenium helps reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in your body. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been linked to atherosclerosis or plaque formation in arteries.
Atherosclerosis can cause serious health problems such as stroke, heart attack, and heart disease. Incorporating selenium-rich foods into your diet is a great way to keep stress and inflammation levels to a minimum.
Helps to prevent mental deterioration
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating condition that impairs memory and negatively affects thinking and behavior. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States
The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is increasing. Therefore, it is important to find ways to prevent this degenerative disease.
Oxidative stress is believed to be involved in both the onset and progression of Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Several studies have shown that patients with Alzheimer’s disease have lower levels of selenium in their blood.
Furthermore, some studies have shown that both dietary and supplemental antioxidants can improve memory in Alzheimer’s patients.
A small study found that daily supplementation with a selenium-rich Brazil nut improved oral cognition and other emotional functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
How much selenium should you take?
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) includes the amount of selenium you should take from food and any supplement. Most people can get their selenium RDA from food. In some studies, men took 100 micrograms daily to determine if selenium could help prevent prostate cancer. The safe upper limit of selenium is 400 micrograms per day in adults. Any of the above is considered an overdose.
FAQ
Is it safe to take selenium everyday?
Selenium is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in doses less than 400 mcg daily, short-term. However, selenium is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in high doses or for a long time. Taking doses above 400 mcg can increase the risk of developing selenium toxicity.
What is selenium good for in the body?
Selenium is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. Selenium is important for reproduction, thyroid gland function, DNA production, and protecting the body from damage caused by free radicals and from infection.
Is Selenium good for hair?
Selenium has many benefits for hair, including Selenium kills dandruff-causing fungus, which is why it's an important ingredient in many dandruff treatments. Selenium is essential for the production of the thyroid hormones that help to regulate hair growth, says health author Mary Shomon.
