What is selenium?
Selenium is a powerful mineral that is essential for the proper functioning of your body.
Where does it come from?
- Plants pick up trace minerals that are in the dirt — including selenium — and convert it into a form that is consumable and useable to humans and other animals
- If you eat a varied, plant-based diet, you are most likely getting this important mineral
- However, as not all diets are created equal and soil varies in its selenium concentration, many people are not getting the amount of selenium they need.
Signs of selenium deficiency
- Weakened immune system
- Muscle fatigue
- Hair loss
- Confusion and mental fog
- Thyroid imbalance
- Unexplained weight gain
How does selenium cure food cravings?
- If you find yourself with a strong cravings for things like bread or other simple carbs, your body may actually be be searching to replenish depleted stores of selenium, which is found in flour
- By maintaining a healthy level of selenium in the body, pesky food cravings are curbed!
Key health benefits of selenium
- Selenium is more concentrated in the thyroid than in other organ in the body, and it plays an important role in the production and metabolism of thyroid hormone
- It has antioxidant properties, meaning it plays a part in chemical reactions that stop free radicals from damaging cells and DNA
- Selenium boosts the immune system and plays a role in the prevention of cancer, heart disease and mental decline
Being mindful about selenium supplements
- Although selenium is necessary for good health, taking too much selenium over time can lead to selenosis, which can cause hair loss, nail loss, nausea, irritability, fatigue and nerve damage
- In severe cases, acute selenium toxicity can lead to serious intestinal and neurological symptoms, heart attack, kidney failure, and death
- It’s important to stay close to the recommended amount of 55 mcg per day and never exceed the tolerable upper limit of 400 mcg per day
