The Health Benefits of Selenium
By Sara Butler
Selenium is an essential mineral your body needs to function well. You may have heard it referred to here and there, but still have no idea what it does or why you need it, much less where you get it! Here is what selenium does for your body and where to find it to ensure you’re getting enough in your diet.
How Much Do You Need?
You must eat selenium. It’s not a nutrient your body can produce on its own. You only need a little bit of it each day, but that little bit plays a pretty big role in several important processes in your body such as thyroid function and metabolism.
It is recommended that you get 55 mcg of selenium per day in your diet. If you don’t, then it can lead to a variety of issues such as:
- Weakened immunity
- Infertility
- Heart disease
- Depression
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Increased risk of certain types of cancer
Selenium deficiency is seen in places where the soil doesn’t contain much of the mineral, such as certain areas of China. It can lead to muscle weakness and pain in addition to other symptoms, so make sure you are eating enough selenium-rich foods each day.
Why Selenium is So Important
Selenium works a lot like iodine when it comes to helping regulate your metabolism. It also helps your body utilize Vitamin C to help improve the protection of the cells in your body. It’s a very powerful antioxidant, too. This is why eating foods high in selenium is important to support your overall health and wellness and to take the stress off your body systems that work to keep you healthy.
What You Should Eat
You will find the most selenium in these foods:
- Yellowfin tuna
- Brazil nuts
- Sardines
- Halibut
- Turkey
- Grass-fed beef
- Eggs
- Chicken
- Spinach
You may not have to worry about getting enough selenium on a daily basis, but it’s important to understand what it does and how getting enough (or not enough) of it can impact your health. The truth is that selenium protects your heart health, supports healthy thyroid function, and may even help to prevent cancer, so it’s an important mineral. The good news is that it’s easy to find and even easier to eat, so enjoy selenium-rich foods in your diet for good health.
Make sure you get enough selenium in your diet!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Wayne, N.J.