What is Selenium Used For?

Selenium is a trace element that is found in many different fruits and vegetables that we consume, and its main purpose in the human body is to act as an antioxidant. Many mineral supplements that are sold in drug stores and recommended by doctors also carry a degree of Selenium in them, and this is because its presence in the human body is vital and essential. Many experts also claim that Selenium is very useful for fighting off various heart diseases and it even gives the body the ability to fight cancer. Along with being an antioxidant, Selenium is also an agent that regulates our metabolism and the activities of the thyroid gland as well.

Foods Containing Selenium

Selenium is commonly found in the soil, so people who reside in areas having such soil and consume a lot of plant-based foods get the most amount of Selenium in their body. Eating the meat of animals and fish is also a good way to get sufficient amount of this element in your body. The most common food sources that contain Selenium are as follows.

• Asparagus
• Brazil Nuts
• Clams
• Egg White
• Fish
• Lamb
• Mushrooms
• Spaghetti
• Spinach
• Tuna
• Wheat Bran

People who live in areas where the soil is rich in Selenium generally have to deal with lesser medical cases of cancer and thyroid related problems. Deficiency of Selenium in the body can cause some serious damage, and these will be discussed a little later.

Properties and Uses of Selenium

Being an antioxidant, the first thing that Selenium does is boost the immune system of the human body. Secondly, Selenium combats the effects of free radicals in the body, and prevents them from carrying out unpredictable damage inside the body. We need oxygen to survive, but when this oxygen is burned inside the body some entities known as free radicals are released and these can travel around the body causing havoc inside. In order to combat such materials, various minerals like Selenium (and other antioxidants) are essential. Along with this property, there are several more facts about Selenium that you should read about so that you are well aware of the entire picture.

Along with this, Selenium also aids Glutathione, which is the primary antioxidant in the human body, in achieving its purpose without any problems. The activation of this particular enzyme is carried out by Selenium, and this helps in protecting the body from free radicals and other effects of oxidative stress. Many studies have also been conducted and these provide an accurate answer to the question what is Selenium used for. According to these tests, many cancer patients have been found to contain low Selenium levels in their body, and additionally, people who have high Selenium levels are less prone to be suffering from cancer in the future.

People who consume high levels of Vitamin C can have a better chance of absorbing Selenium in the body, since Vitamin C is an agent that increases the chances of this happening. But eating a diet that is rich in fish, meat and organ meats should generally ensure that Selenium levels are maintained. It is also said that 70 mcg of Selenium being consumed on a daily basis should be enough to keep the body at a healthy level. If extremely high levels of Selenium are consumed (say around 3000 mcg a day) then it could also result in cases of toxicity in the body.

Effects of Selenium Deficiency

As already mentioned, cancer is a very real risk when Selenium levels are low. The following cancers may rear their ugly head in case of a deficiency.

• Bladder cancer
• Colon cancer
• Lung cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Rectal cancer
• Skin cancer

All of these cancers have their own symptoms and show themselves in their own way, so maintaining a healthy level of Selenium is just one of the many precautions that we must mandatorily take. Your thyroid may also slow down significantly with a Selenium deficiency, so you need to take care of this as well. The kidneys and the liver are where most of the Selenium is found in our body, so the metabolism is also affected. Hence, low Selenium may also result in slow metabolic rate, which leads to tiredness, lethargy and fatigue. Studies show that Selenium also controls cholesterol levels in the body, so good amounts of it will also ensure that one does not suffer from heart related diseases and disorders.

There are three other major diseases that are also related with a lack of Selenium in the body, and these are as follows.

• Kashin-Beck Disease - This leads to osteoarthropathy in adults and children.
• Keshan Disease - This afflicts children and leads to an enlarged heart and other complications.
• Myxedematous Endemic Cretinism - A disorder that results in mental retardation.

For all these reasons, it is very important that pregnant women and children get adequate amounts of Selenium in their diet. It also notable that men need this trace mineral more intensely than women. If all this was not enough for one to get convinced about the importance of Selenium, one should also know that the harmful effects of mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium can also be avoided with the help of Selenium.