Selenium is a mineral with high antioxidant power and therefore helps prevent diseases such as cancer and strengthen the immune system, as well as protect against heart problems such as atherosclerosis.
Selenium is found in the soil and is present in water and in foods such as Brazil nuts, wheat flour, bread and egg yolk, and supplementation should only be done with the advice of the doctor or nutritionist, as excess selenium in the body can damage health. . See all foods rich in selenium.
- Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce the amount of free radicals in the body.
- These free radicals form naturally during body metabolism.
- But can cause damage such as inflammation.
- Changes in cellular function and aging.
People who smoke, consume alcoholic beverages on a regular basis and experience a lot of stress end up producing a greater amount of free radicals, having a greater need to consume antioxidant nutrients. See which foods are rich in antioxidants.
Because it is an antioxidant, selenium protects cells from changes in their DNA that lead to tumor production, being important primarily for preventing lung, breast, prostate and colon cancers.
Selenium reduces the amount of inflammatory substances in the body and increases the amount of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant in the body. These actions reduce the oxidation of bad cholesterol in the blood vessels, which when it eventually produces atheroma plaques, which clog the arteries and cause problems such as heart attack, stroke and thrombosis.
The thyroid is the organ that stores more selenium in the body, as it is critical to maintaining good hormone production. Selenium deficiency can cause problems such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a type of hypothyroidism that occurs because defense cells begin to attack the thyroid, reducing its functioning.
Adequate amounts of selenium in the body help reduce inflammation and improve the immune system, helping even people with diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C to have more immunity to opportunistic diseases.
Because it is important for the proper functioning of the thyroid, selenium helps prevent hypothyroidism, diseases that eventually slow metabolism and promote weight gain.
In addition, overweight increases inflammation in the body, which also disrupts the production of satiety hormones. Thus, by acting as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, selenium also helps reduce hormonal changes associated with excess fat, which promotes weight loss.
By acting as an antioxidant, selenium helps prevent and reduce the spread of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
This advantage is even greater when selenium is consumed from foods that are good fat sources, such as Brazil nuts, egg yolks and chicken.
In general, most people on a varied diet consume the recommended amounts of selenium to stay healthy, but in some cases their deficiency is more common, such as in people living with HIV, Crohn’s disease, and people who take food. nutrient serums injected directly into the vein.
In these cases, your doctor or nutritionist may prescribe the use of selenium supplements.
Excess selenium in the body can cause serious problems such as shortness of breath, fever, nausea and organ dysfunction such as the liver, kidneys and heart. Very high amounts can even lead to death, so supplementation should only be done under the direction of the doctor or nutritionist.