Selenium
Most of have heard that we should eat Brazil nuts because they contain selenium, but few of us have investigated to find out what exactly is selenium and why do we need it. Without digging in to Google’s medical archives, here is a quick but to the point summary: without sufficient selenium, we will experience a weakened immune system, increase our risk of Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease, and leave ourselves open to an increased risk of certain cancers, including prostate cancer, which has one of the poorest prognosis’ of any cancer.
Selenium is easy to get hold of. Grab a bag of brazil nuts. Research has demonstrated that eating only One brazil nut a day, is enough to provide a sufficient amount of selenium to keep blood levels topped up (a little bit of selenium goes a long way). Selenium is also present in sunflower seeds, eggs, mushrooms, spinach, and oatmeal, along with plenty of other foods.
Pineal Gland
Selenium can aid us in our quest for connection with our higher self, through helping to combat both the uptake and the damaging effects of sodium fluoride. Selenium can block fluoride absorption and can aide eliminate of fluorine from the body, making selenium a very important consideration in the pineal gland decalcification process. Selenium also plays a key role in healthy endocrine system function (the home of the pineal gland) and can especially help to regulate thyroid function. Selenium is also excellent at assisting with the detoxification of the pineal gland and body from heavy metal residue, especially mercury. Selenide (which is a Selenium compound) binds with mercury and forms what is referred to as ‘mercury selenide’, which then prevents mercury buildup and/or toxicity by neutralising the harmful effects of mercury in our body. Selenium is also a mood booster, as regulation of the thyroid has been linked to a decrease in depressive symptoms and mood disorders.
About Selenium
Ancient Greek – σελήνη (selḗnē) “Moon”
Discovered in 1817 by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius, Selenium (Se) is a trace element and micronutrient and can also be referred to as a trace mineral. Many Selenium is a vital micronutrient, of which deficiency can cause a serious threat to human health. If there was a list of the top 10 nutrients essential for health and disease prevention, there is no doubt that selenium would feature on that list
Oxidative stress and inflammation is the basis of nearly every chronic disease on the planet. Selenium provides an essential source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that are imperative for sustaining human health.
Health Benefits
Selenium is an essential trace mineral which is vital for our health. Aim to get enough selenium from your diet and you can be sure that you are doing a good job at protecting yourself from increased risk of certain cancers, heart disease, endocrine disruption, and neurological disorders, along with other chronic diseases. Listed below are some of the health benefits associated with selenium.
Heart Defender
An increased risk of Coronary Heart Disease has been sufficiently linked to low serum selenium. Keeping our diets rich in selenium is of definite good service to our heart health. Research indicated that high levels of selenium can drastically improve our inflammation biomarkers, which is one of the leading causes of heart problems. High serum levels of selenium also dramatically cut our risk of coronary artery disease. It has been revealed that an increase of 50% serum selenium had a direct effect on lowering the risk of coronary artery disease by as much as 24%. Glutathione peroxidase is a high ranking antioxidant, capable of destroying a multiple of disease-causing cells. Intake of selenium has been associated with an increase of Glutathione peroxidase and lowering inflammation in the body. These capabilities of selenium combined with a reduction in free radicals means selenium protects our arteries from complications such as Atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque in the arteries), which is caused by inflammation such as a very high CPR blood result (an inflammation biomarker) and oxidative stress. Atherosclerosis leads to coronary artery disease, but can also cause stroke and of course, heart attacks.
Lowers Risk of Certain Cancers
Studies have shown that a good balance of selenium in the blood, may assist in protecting us against certain types of cancer. A collection of scientific studies were coagulated and reviewed. Total participants overviews were in the region of 360,000. This broad analyses of multiple studies highlighted a consistent trend and suggested that a high serum level of selenium can protect us from the onset and progression of certain cancers which included lung cancer, breast, and prostate cancer, along with colon cancer too. The main causative factor regarding selenium’s ability to protect from certain cancers is attributed to selenium’s ability to reduce DNA damage from oxidative stress and keep our immune system in check. Importantly and reassuringly for those who believe in the power of nutrition, these potent health protective qualities were only associated with selenium obtained from food sources and not through the use of selenium supplements.
Antioxidant Power
Free radicals are an essential part of our metabolism process, however when the balanced of free radicals outweighs antioxidants, this excess of free radicals starts to cause what is known as oxidative stress which causes damage to healthy cells in the body and which has been associated with chronic disease including Cancer and Cardiovascular disease, premature ageing, and brain disease. Essential trace element Selenium has a long history of study in relation to human health. It has been scientifically established that a deficiency of selenium can cause major health problems in humans. Selenium is easy to come by in food, especially brazil nuts. A small amount of selenium per day (for example 2 brazil nuts) is sufficient enough to protect us from a free radical overload and help to defend our body from disease.
Helps Prevent Mental Decline
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the worlds leading causes of death globally and causes devastation for all those involved. Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by a disturbance in memory, disrupted behaviour patterns as well as physical symptoms such as incontinence, weight loss, and a decline in motor skills. Overall Alzheimer’s disease leads to a severe drop in quality of life and eventually death. The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is steadily rising. Therefore it is more essential than ever before to consciously incorporate into our diets nutrients and micronutrients that lower inflammation, boost our immunity and protect our brain and bodily health from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been proven to be a precursor to both the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological diseases. Scientific studies have linked low levels of selenium in the blood to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s. Selenium has also been shown to bolster mental function in general but also has been a successful source of brain nourishment for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, improving Alzheimer’s related cognitive decline. Selenium from food sources was shown to improve memory function, verbal fluency, and cognitive function.
Thyroid Health
The Thyroid gland regulates the body’s metabolism and the thyroid hormone affects our physical growth and development. A study of 6000 participants has demonstrated that a deficiency of Selenium is a causative factor for hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis. Increasing intake Selenium been shown to improve symptoms associated with the condition Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease whereby the immune system mistakenly attacks and can eventually destroy the thyroid gland. More research is needed to confirm the use of selenium in patients suffering from Hashimoto’s, but early trials have proven hopeful. Compared with other organs, the Thyroid gland contains the highest tissue concentration of selenium in the body. Selenium is, therefore, an essential nutrient to assist in the smooth running function of the thyroid gland. Not only does selenium protect the Thyroid gland from oxidative damage, but is a required nutrient which contributes directly to the production of thyroid hormone.
Boosts the Immune System
High-level doses of selenium undertaken in controlled studies have been shown to provide beneficial immune system stimulation for patients suffering from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis C, tuberculosis and antibiotic-resistant strains of influenza. Studies suggest that Selenium can help the immune system perform optimally and can also provide peak immune performance if the need should arise based on the body suffering from an immune disorder. Selenium lowers plays an important role in the health of the immune system. The antioxidant load in selenium helps to regulate inflammation related biomarkers, reduce oxidative stress on the body, and provide our immune system with a powerful array of weapons designed to ensure our health by enabling our body to win the war against disease-causing pathogens.