Did you know that Selenium is an essential mineral that you Must get from your diet?
It’s true, your body can’t produce it, not even a little.
Many people have no idea how important Selenium is so I wanted to share it with you so you can continue to be an informed consumer and take optimal care of yourself
Selenium helps your body with many functions from fighting off infections to healthy reproduction. Selenium has been shown to combat free radical cell damage. This means it has anti-oxidant, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. It may also protect against heart disease, which is a major cause of death in the United States.
Healthy thyroid function is also dependent on proper amounts of Selenium in our diets. Your thyroid glad contains more Selenium than any other organ in your body. Your thyroid is super important for healthy metabolism, hormone balance, growth, digestive function, genetic expression, and so much more!
There is a study that found patients with Alzheimer’s have low levels of Selenium.
Eating foods high in Selenium can help, however you must be able to break them down and absorb the nutrients properly. Many people have digestive and absorption issues that prevent them from getting enough Selenium through diet alone. Proper gut repair and on-going gut health can help. You can see my first book Holistic Keto for Gut Health; A Program for Resetting Your Metabolism to learn more.
In the meantime, taking the correct kind of Selenium can make a huge difference. There are many cheap versions of this essential mineral on the market, and you won’t absorb or utilize it.
Selenomethionine is a well-studied natural form (biologically active) of Selenium that is easier to absorb than other synthetic minerals.
You want to avoid sodium selenite, which is inorganic, more difficult to utilize, and even toxic.
Dosage is important because too little leaves you deficient and too much is toxic.
I’ll focus on adults here. Anyone over the age of 14 years needs about 55 mcg a day.
Women who are pregnant or lactating need more, approximately 60 mcg.
If you’re working on your digestion then consider eating some of the foods below to boost your selenium.
Selenium Rich Foods
- Brazil nuts. You only need to eat about 6-8 nuts, a few times a week, to get about 544mcg.
- Fish. 3 ounces of Yellowfin tuna contains about 92 mcg. Followed by sardines, oysters, clams, halibut, shrimp, salmon, and crab. (all containing about 40-65 mcg)
- Meat: 3 oz of pork has 33 mcg, different cuts of beef offer different amounts of selenium such as bottom round beef steak has about 33mcg
- Turkey: 3 oz offers 31 mcg and Chicken about 22-25 mcg.
- Eggs: 1 hard-boiled egg offers approximately 20 mcg of Selenium.
- Brown Rice: 1 cup cooked long-grain provides about 19 mcg
- Sunflower seeds: ¼ cup provides 19mcg
- Baked beans: 1 cup renders 13 mcg
- Mushrooms: 100g serving offers 12 mcg
- Oatmeal: 1 cup provides 13mcg
- Spinach 11 mcg
Don’t become deficient in this essential nutrient, be proactive and eat well, take a professional supplement and enjoy vibrant health!