Selenium

Benefits of Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral that is found naturally in the soil and is also present in certain foods, as well as in the water we drink. Some of the most Selenium-rich foods include; pork, beef, turkey, chicken, fish, shellfish, eggs, as well as beans and nuts, especially Brazil nuts. As a potent antioxidant, selenium benefits many roles inside the body, the most notables of which include bolstering immunity, offering potent antioxidant protection against free radical damage and inflammation, and maintaining a healthy metabolism.

Supplementation has also been shown to exert antiviral protection, to support normal cell construction & function, to support male fertility and reproduction, as well as is a key player in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune and thyroid diseases.

Though selenium deficiency is rare today given its prevalence in diet; however, people with certain health conditions, especially those affecting the GI tract and impair nutrient absorption, may have low selenium levels which can lead to deficiency, and predispose to a range of conditions.

Health Benefits of Selenium

• Anti-Aging Supplement
• Protective Antioxidant Supplement
• Supports Healthy Heart Function
• Supports Optimal Thyroid Gland Function

Who Benefits From Selenium?

Some of the most common instances in which selenium supplementation will be recommended include; boosting immunity, helping to protect against cell deterioration, replication, and proliferation, to improve blood flow throughout the body, help protect cardiovascular health and thyroid function, relieve symptoms of asthma, and last but certainly not least, selenium may be recommended to improve fertility by enhancing sperm quantity and motility. Interestingly, while selenium supplementation has primarily been studied for male infertility, research has also shown that low levels of selenium in women increase the chance of miscarriage considerably.

Selenium Supplement Benefits

Potencies

200 mcg seems to be the most common potency of supplements.

Forms

Selenium either as a standalone or as part of a multivitamin blend is often provided as selenomethionine or selenium-enriched yeast (grown on a high-selenium medium) or as sodium selenite or sodium selenate. It's worth noting; however, that the human body absorbs more than 90% of selenomethionine but only about 50% of selenium from selenite. As such pay special attention to labels when selecting your selenium supplement.

Formats

Selenium supplements are widely available in tablets, capsules, as well as in concentrated liquid form, and liquid ionic solutions.

Final Thoughts

Selenium, like other antioxidants, pairs exceptionally well with other antioxidants, with whom it works synergistically to further enhance the body's antioxidant protection. This is why we often see antioxidant blends such as ACES (vitamins A, C, E, & Selenium), whose benefits are calculated not as an addition, but rather as a multiplication.