How Selenium Can Save Your Health from Heavy Metal Poisoning and Other Diseases

Selenium is a trace mineral that you may not have heard of, but it is essential for your health and well-being. Selenium plays a vital role in many processes in your body, such as protecting your cells from oxidative stress, supporting your thyroid function, enhancing your immune system, and improving your reproductive health.

Selenium also has a unique ability to detoxify heavy metals from your body, which can otherwise cause serious damage to your organs and brain. However, many people around the world are deficient in Selenium, due to low soil selenium content, poor dietary choices, or certain medical conditions. Selenium deficiency can lead to various health problems, such as muscle weakness, fatigue, hair loss, mental fog, impaired immunity, and increased risk of infections and cancer.

Fortunately, you can prevent or treat Selenium deficiency by increasing your Selenium intake from food sources or supplements. In this post, you will learn everything you need to know about Selenium, why you need it, how it can save your health from heavy metal poisoning and other diseases, and how to get enough of it from your diet or supplements. Read on and discover the amazing benefits of selenium for your health and well-being.

What is Selenium and why do you need it?

Selenium is a mineral that is found in small amounts in the soil, water, and food. It is also present in your body, mainly in your liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, and muscles. Selenium is part of several proteins called selenoproteins, which perform various functions in your body. Some of the most important selenoproteins are:

• Glutathione peroxidase (GPx): protects your cells from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage your DNA, proteins, and membranes, and contribute to aging and diseases.
• Iodothyronine deiodinases (DIOs): convert the inactive thyroid hormone T4 into the active thyroid hormone T3. Thyroid hormones regulate your metabolism, growth, development, and energy levels.
• Selenoprotein P (SeP): transports Selenium throughout your body and maintains its optimal levels in different tissues.
• Selenoprotein W (SeW): protects your muscles from oxidative damage and helps with muscle contraction and relaxation.

Selenium is an essential nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. It helps with many important functions, some of which are vital for the body. These are some of the more important functions where Selenium is required:

• Antioxidant defense: Selenium helps to prevent or reduce oxidative stress, which can cause inflammation, aging, and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
• Thyroid health: Selenium helps to maintain normal thyroid function and hormone balance. Selenium deficiency can cause hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), which can lead to symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, depression, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, and cold intolerance.
• Immune system: Selenium helps to boost your immune system and fight infections and diseases. Selenium deficiency can impair your immune response and increase your susceptibility to viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and tumors.
• Reproductive health: Selenium helps to support your fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Selenium deficiency can affect your sperm quality and motility in men, and your ovulation and implantation in women. Selenium deficiency can also increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, and preeclampsia.

Selenium is often called the anti-cancer mineral because it can reduce the risk of various types of cancer by protecting your cells from DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

However, according to a recent study by Life Extension, not all forms of selenium are equally effective in preventing cancer. The study found that three forms of selenium, namely sodium selenite, selenomethionine, and methyl-selenocysteine, are required for optimal cancer prevention. These forms of selenium act on different molecular targets and pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Therefore, it is important to consume a balanced mix of these selenium forms to achieve the maximum benefit. [Updated on 2023-06-24 with new information about Selenium Forms And Cancer Prevention.]

The amount of Selenium that you need per day depends on your age and gender. The recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for adults are 55 mcg per day, and 60 mcg to 70 mcg for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

However, these RDAs are based on the minimum amount of Selenium that you need to prevent deficiency symptoms. Some experts suggest that you may need more Selenium for optimal health and disease prevention.

For example, some studies have suggested that you may need 100 to 200 mcg of Selenium per day for optimal antioxidant defense, immune function, and cancer prevention. However, more research is needed to confirm the optimal dose of Selenium for different health outcomes.

You should also be careful not to consume too much Selenium, as it can cause adverse effects. The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for selenium is 400 mcg per day for adults. Exceeding this amount can cause some of these symptoms:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
• Hair loss, nail brittleness, and skin rash
• Fatigue, irritability, and nervousness
• Garlic breath, and metallic taste in the mouth
• Muscle and joint pain and weakness
• Liver and kidney problems
• Neurological disorders such as tremors, seizures, and paralysis

Therefore, it is important to balance your Selenium intake and avoid excess or deficiency. The best way to do this is to get enough selenium from your diet or supplements, but not more than the UL.

How Does Selenium Detoxify Heavy Metals from Your Body?

Heavy metals are metals that have a high density and can be toxic to your body even at low doses. Because heavy metals are inorganic compounds that the body cannot metabolize, they accumulate in organs and tissues, and may not be eliminated with a simple purification of toxins. Some of the most common heavy metals that you may be exposed to are:

• Cadmium: is found in cigarette smoke, industrial emissions, fertilizers, batteries, and some foods such as shellfish, liver, and kidney.
• Mercury: is found in dental fillings, thermometers, fluorescent lamps, cosmetics, and some fish such as tuna, swordfish, and shark.
• Aluminum: is widely used today in construction, transportation, packaging, cosmetics and deodorants, medicine, food additives, and in the chemical industry. It is almost everywhere in our daily lives.
• Thallium: is found in rat poison, insecticides, smog, and some contaminated water sources.
• Silver: is found in jewelry, silverware, coins, photographic materials, and some medications and supplements.

Heavy Metals can also be found in the food we eat. Don´t let these hidden metals poison your body. Discover the Top Dietary Sources Of Heavy Metals and how to avoid them.

Heavy metal exposure can cause various health problems, such as:

• Oxidative stress: Heavy metals can generate free radicals that damage your cells and DNA.
• Inflammation: Heavy metals can trigger an inflammatory response that can worsen chronic diseases.
• Neurotoxicity: Heavy metals can affect your brain function and cause symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, depression, anxiety, tremors, and dementia.
• Carcinogenicity: Heavy metals can cause mutations in your DNA that can lead to cancer development.
• Endocrine disruption: Heavy metals can interfere with your hormone production and balance.
• Immunosuppression: Heavy metals can weaken your immune system and increase your risk of infections and diseases.

Selenium can help to detoxify heavy metals from your body by binding with them and forming metal selenides. Metal selenides are compounds that are less toxic and more easily excreted than free heavy metals. Selenium can also reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by heavy metal exposure by enhancing your antioxidant defense system.

However, Selenium protection against heavy metals may depend on the dose, form, and timing of Selenium intake, as well as the type and level of heavy metal exposure. Also, Selenium itself can be toxic at high doses and may interact with other nutrients or drugs. Therefore, it is advisable to consult with your doctor before taking Selenium supplements for heavy metal detoxification.

Discover how to Get Rid of Heavy Metals Naturally and Safely in this amazing post.

How does Selenium protect you from Diseases?

Selenium is not only a powerful detoxifier of heavy metals but also a potent protector against various diseases. Selenium can help to prevent or treat diseases by:

Scavenging free radicals: Selenium acts as an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that can cause oxidative stress and damage to your cells and DNA. Oxidative stress is a major factor in the development of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Reducing inflammation: Selenium acts as an anti-inflammatory that modulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that can cause inflammation and tissue damage. Inflammation is a common feature of many diseases such as arthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and autoimmune disorders.

Enhancing immunity: Selenium acts as an immune booster that stimulates the activity and proliferation of immune cells such as T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages that can fight infections and diseases. Selenium also enhances the production of antibodies and cytokines that can help to eliminate pathogens and tumors.

Supporting thyroid health: Selenium acts as a thyroid supporter that helps to regulate the production and conversion of thyroid hormones that control your metabolism, growth, development, and energy levels.

Selenium deficiency can impair your thyroid function and cause hypothyroidism or goiter, which can lead to symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, depression, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, and cold intolerance. Selenium supplementation can help to improve your thyroid function and prevent or treat thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s disease, Graves’ disease, and thyroid cancer.

Improving reproductive health: Selenium acts as a reproductive enhancer that helps to improve your fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Selenium deficiency can affect your sperm quality and motility in men, and your ovulation and implantation in women.

Selenium deficiency can also increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, and preeclampsia. Selenium supplementation can help to improve your sperm quality and motility in men, and your ovulation and implantation in women. Selenium supplementation can also reduce the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, and preeclampsia.

Boosting cognitive health: Selenium acts as a cognitive booster that helps to improve your brain function and prevent cognitive decline. Selenium deficiency can affect your neurotransmitter synthesis and signaling, and cause neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

Selenium deficiency can also increase the risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Selenium supplementation can help to improve your neurotransmitter synthesis and signaling and prevent neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Selenium supplementation can also reduce the risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

As you can see, selenium is a powerful protector against various diseases that can affect your health and well-being. However, you should not rely on selenium alone to prevent or treat diseases. You should also follow a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, and avoiding smoking and alcohol.

How can you tell if you are deficient in Selenium?

Selenium deficiency is a condition that occurs when you do not get enough selenium from your diet or supplements. Selenium deficiency can cause various health problems that affect your physical and mental well-being.

According to some sources, selenium deficiency may affect up to 1 billion people around the world. Selenium deficiency is more prevalent in regions where the soil is low in selenium, such as China, Europe, Africa, and parts of North America.

Some of the common signs and symptoms of selenium deficiency are:

Muscle weakness: Selenium deficiency can affect your muscle function and cause weakness, pain, and cramps in your muscles. Selenium deficiency can also cause a rare condition called Keshan disease, which affects your heart muscle and can cause heart failure.

Fatigue: Selenium deficiency can affect your energy production and metabolism, and cause fatigue, lethargy, and low stamina. Selenium deficiency can also affect your thyroid function and cause hypothyroidism, which can also cause fatigue and low energy levels.

Hair loss: Selenium deficiency can affect your hair growth and quality, and cause hair loss, thinning, and brittleness. Selenium deficiency can also affect your thyroid function and cause hypothyroidism, which can also cause hair loss and dryness.

Mental fog: Selenium deficiency can affect your brain function and cause mental fog, confusion, poor concentration, memory loss, and mood swings. Selenium deficiency can also affect your thyroid function and cause hypothyroidism, which can also cause mental fog and depression.

Impaired immunity: Selenium deficiency can affect your immune system and reduce your ability to fight infections and diseases. Selenium deficiency can increase your susceptibility to viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and tumors. Selenium deficiency can also worsen the symptoms and complications of infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and malaria.

Increased risk of infections and cancer: Selenium deficiency can increase your risk of developing infections and cancers by impairing your immune system, increasing oxidative stress and inflammation, and causing DNA damage. Selenium deficiency can increase your risk of infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and malaria. Selenium deficiency can also increase your risk of cancers such as prostate, lung, colorectal, breast, bladder, skin, and liver cancer.

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, you should consult with your doctor and get tested for your selenium levels. You can measure your selenium levels by testing your blood, hair, or nails. You can also measure the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), a selenium-dependent enzyme that indicates your selenium status.

If you are diagnosed with selenium deficiency, you should increase your selenium intake from food sources or supplements. However, you should do this under medical supervision, as too much selenium can also be harmful.

How can you increase your selenium intake?

The best way to get enough selenium for your health and well-being is to eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods that are rich in selenium. Some of the best food sources of selenium are:

Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts are the richest source of selenium, as one ounce (28 grams) of Brazil nuts can provide up to 544 mcg of selenium, which is more than 700% of the RDA. However, you should not eat too many Brazil nuts, as they can also contain high levels of other minerals such as barium, thorium, and radium, which can be toxic at high doses. You should limit your intake of Brazil nuts to no more than 2 to 3 nuts per day.

Fish: Fish is another excellent source of selenium, as 3 ounces (85 grams) of cooked fish can provide between 20 to 90 mcg of selenium, depending on the type of fish. Some of the best fish sources of selenium are tuna, halibut, sardines, salmon, cod, and herring. Fish can also provide other nutrients such as protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and iodine, which can benefit your health in many ways.

Meat: Meat is also a good source of selenium, as 3 ounces (85 grams) of cooked meat can provide between 10 to 40 mcg of selenium, depending on the type and cut of meat. Some of the best meat sources of selenium are beef, pork, lamb, turkey, chicken, and liver. Meat can also provide other nutrients such as protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, which can support your health and well-being.

Eggs: Eggs are another good source of selenium, as one large egg can provide about 15 mcg of selenium, which is about 20% of the RDA. Eggs can also provide other nutrients such as protein, choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which can benefit your health in many ways.

Dairy products: Dairy products are also a good source of selenium, as one cup (245 grams) of milk can provide about 8 mcg of selenium, which is about 10% of the RDA. Other dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, and butter can also provide some selenium. Dairy products can also provide other nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, protein, and vitamin D, which can benefit your health in many ways.

Grains: Grains are also a good source of selenium, as one cup (140 grams) of cooked rice can provide about 6 mcg of selenium, which is about 8% of the RDA. Other grains such as oats, wheat, barley, quinoa, and buckwheat can also provide some selenium. Grains can also provide other nutrients such as carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, and B vitamins, which can support your health and well-being.

However, the selenium content of these foods may vary depending on the selenium content of the soil where they are grown or raised. Therefore, you may not get enough selenium from your diet if you live in an area with low soil selenium content. In that case, you may need to take selenium supplements to meet your selenium needs.

Selenium supplements are available in different forms and doses. The most common forms are selenomethionine and selenite. Selenomethionine is an organic form of selenium that is more bioavailable and stable than selenite, which is an inorganic form of selenium that is less bioavailable and stable. However, both forms can be effective in preventing or treating selenium deficiency.

The dose of selenium supplements that you need may depend on your age, gender, health status, and dietary intake. The general recommendation is to take no more than 200 mcg of selenium per day from supplements unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor. You should also consult with your doctor before taking selenium supplements if you have any medical conditions or take any medications that may interact with selenium.

Selenium supplements can have some drawbacks and risks if taken in excess or in combination with other supplements or drugs or may interfere with the absorption or metabolism of other nutrients or drugs. Therefore, you should be careful when taking selenium supplements and follow the instructions and recommendations of your doctor and the supplement label.

Conclusion

Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential for your health and well-being. Selenium plays a vital role in many processes in your body, such as protecting your cells from oxidative stress, supporting your thyroid function, enhancing your immune system, and improving your reproductive health. Selenium also has a unique ability to detoxify heavy metals from your body, which can otherwise cause serious damage to your organs and brain.

However, many people around the world are deficient in selenium, due to low soil selenium content, poor dietary choices, or certain medical conditions. Selenium deficiency can lead to various health problems, such as muscle weakness, fatigue, hair loss, mental fog, impaired immunity, and increased risk of infections and cancer.

Fortunately, you can prevent or treat selenium deficiency by increasing your selenium intake from food sources or supplements. However, you should also be careful not to consume too much selenium, as it can cause toxicity and adverse effects.

We hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new about selenium. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading and have a great day. Stay healthy and happy.