Selenium Mineral Trace Element - Selenium rich food and Supplements

Food Sources of Selenium

Good sources includes Egg yolk; Garlic; Seafood; Whole-grain flour. Selenium can be found in meat and grains, depending on the selenium content of the soil where the food is raised. Because New Zealand soils are low in selenium, cattle and sheep raised there have suffered a breakdown of muscle tissue, including the heart muscle.

Benefits and Functions of Selenium

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant mineral and is found in all tissues of the body. It has a protective effect against oxidative damage to body cells, particularly the heart. The body only needs a small amount of Selenium but due to diminishing levels in soils and foods, deficiencies are increasingly common. Selenium deficiency has been linked to a range of serious conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases and other free radical related problems such as premature ageing.

Dosage

You should be able to get all the selenium you need from your daily diet. This is:
0.075 mg a day for men
0.06 mg a day for women. Taking 0.35 mg or less a day of selenium supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.

What are the deficiency symptoms of Selenium?

Deficiency may lead to: Cardiomyopathy; Kaschin-Beck disease (affects the cartilage at joints).

Overdosage Signs of Selenium

Too much selenium causes selenosis, a condition that in its mildest form can lead to loss of hair, skin and nails. Excessive intake can lead to selenium poisoning.

Selenium Deficiency

Keshan disease