Selenium

Eric Bakker N.D.May 9, 2022

Even if you've never heard of selenium, it's an essential component for your health. Selenium is an important mineral, which means you must get it through your food. It's only required in trace amounts, yet it's critical for vital bodily functions like metabolism and thyroid function.

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Eric Bakker Naturopath » Recipes » Selenium

Selenium is an essential trace element, used in particular in the glutathione peroxidase enzyme system which protects intracellular structures against oxidative damage.

 Actions of Selenium include:

  • Cofactor for glutathione peroxidase
  • Converts thyroxine to triiodothyronine
  • Involved in arachidonic acid metabolism
  • Involved in inflammatory response
  • Binds heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury

Clinical applications Of Selenium:

  • Cancer prevention: by activating phagocytes and NK lymphocytes, selenium reduces the risk of developing many forms of cancer. As a means of counter-acting cancer, the body incorporates additional selenium into cancer cells.
  • Cardiovascular disease: Keshan Disease occurs as a direct result of selenium deficiency, prevents heart attack(selenium (100 mcg per day) is highly recommended as a means of preventing further heart attack in persons who have already experienced a heart attack.Reduces hypertension, alleviates cardiomyopathy, prevents abnormal blood-clotting.
  • Eyes and Vision: Age-related macular degeneration, short-sightedness, glaucoma, dry eyes, the general health of eyes are improved.
  • Metabolism: hypothyroidism, selenium helps convertT4 to T3. Lowers elevated blood-sugar levels in DM. Selenium also improves hepatic function.
  • Musculoskeletal: muscular dystrophy, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Nervous system: deficiencies of selenium have been linked to aggressiveness, anxiety, confusion and depression. Selenium improves mood, and reduces incidences of seizures in epileptics.
  • Male/Female: fibrocystic breast disease, prevents miscarriage, male infertility, reduces risk of cadmium produced enlarged prostate, deficiency can result in defective sperm
  • Skin/Hair: improves skin health generally: eczema, psoriasis, acne. Improves hair and scalp conditions such as dandruff. Helps prevent sunburn.
  • Viral illnesses: for prevention or treatment of, hepatitis B, HIV infection or its sequelae, hemorrhagic-fever viruses, and Coxsackie B virus.

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