1) The amount of selenium in foods depends upon the quality of the soil the food is grown in.
2) People living in Nebraska and the Dakotas have the highest levels of selenium in the United States.
3) Because of its soil, China has one of the world’s highest rates of selenium deficiency.
4) Enlarged hearts and poor heart functioning have been found in children who have not gotten enough selenium.
5) Mental retardation can be another result of a selenium deficiency in children.
6) It has been observed that rates of death from cancer are lower among people with higher blood levels of selenium.
7) Research has shown that selenium may prevent or slow down the growth of cancerous tumors.
8) The level of selenium in toenails is thought to be an accurate reflection of selenium levels in the human body for the prior year.
9) There is evidence that low selenium levels are associated with higher rates of heart attacks.
10) The symptoms of arthritis are thought to be reduced by the administration of selenium.
Recently there have been some studies that linked lower levels of selenium to higher rates of death of HIV/AIDS. As part of a treatment plan, it is also hoped that selenium can help to slow the progression of HIV/AIDS. Because of selenium’s role as an antioxidant, there is optimism that it may contribute to health and the fighting of disease in a wide variety of ways.
Suffering toxic effects from an excess of selenium in the body is rare. Usually it is caused by taking supplement dosages of selenium that are far too high. The toxic effects of selenium include upset stomach, an odor of garlic on the breath, irritability, fatigue, and mild nerve damage.
Though there were some severe results of selenium deficiency noted above for children, in general, selenium deficiency is not so much associated with specific problems but more as a contribution toward general poor, or sub-optimal, health. Also, without enough selenium present, it is suspected that the human body is more susceptible to illness and less resistant to stressors.
One ounce of brazil nuts contains nearly eight times the recommended daily amount of selenium. Other rich food sources of selenium include tuna, beef, cod, turkey, chicken, and eggs.
Copyright © Dennis Becker, 2004.
This article may be reproduced in its entirety in your ezine or on your web site, as long as this resource box, which includes the copyright notification and live (clickable) URL below, remains intact. It is one of the many "Top 10" articles about vitamins, minerals, and herbs, more of which can be found at:
http://www.a1-vitamins-and-supplements.com
