Benefits of Selenium

What is selenium? What are the benefits of selenium? What happens if there is selenium deficiency? Here are some facts about selenium.

Selenium is an element that is found in trace amounts in our bodies. This element is necessary to maintain good health as it helps prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals and helps to strengthen our immune system. However, it is also an element that should be ingested in very small amounts as too much selenium can actually do more damage than good.

Selenium is found in the soil and the selenium we ingest is gotten through plants that are grown in selenium rich soil or from animals that eat plants that contain amounts of selenium. One of the many benefits of selenium is that it is actually quite simple to get the recommended daily requirement of this element with very little effort on our part.

Selenium benefits include helping the thyroid to function properly and helping protect the heart against certain diseases.

Sources of Selenium

There are a variety of foods that contain selenium. Cereal grains, baked goods, shellfish and poultry are all great sources of this element. Brazil nuts are particularly high in this element and for that reason should be eaten sparingly. Most people in this country get all the selenium and all the benefits of selenium they need by eating breads and meat. People in some other countries where there is an absence of selenium rich soil are not so lucky.

Selenium Deficiency

While it is rare, selenium deficiency can exist in some countries. And while this deficiency does not cause any disease in itself it can make the body more susceptible to certain diseases such as heart disease and thyroid problems. In addition there are some diseases that are closely linked to selenium deficiency. Keshan disease is found in children and can cause an enlarged and poorly functioning heart. Kashin-Beck disease results in osteoarthropathy and myxedematous endenic cretinism which results in mental retardation.

In the United States, selenium deficiency is usually associated with people suffering from severe gastrointestinal problems such as Crohn's disease or those who have surgically had part of their stomach removed. In these cases doctors monitor blood levels for selenium deficiency and prescribe supplements when necessary.

Over Dose of Selenium

Taking too much selenium can result in an overdose and symptoms of selenium overdoses can run the gambit. Nausea, vomiting, a garlic smell to the breath can all indicate that you have too much selenium in your system and may have a condition known as selenosis. Other symptoms of this condition include irritability and fatigue.

It is important that if you have selenosis that you get it treated in the early stages as not doing so may result in selenium toxicity which can cause nerve damage pulmonary edema, cirrhosis of the liver and in extreme cases even death.

While there are many benefits of Selenium there are also many dangers and you should never take supplements of this element without first consulting your doctor. While selenium benefits can keep you healthy and strong, overdosing can have the opposite effect. It is the best policy to be aware and take care when thinking about increasing your selenium intake.

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