When you think of important vitamins and minerals, selenium may not be on the top of your list.
But it should be.
After reading today’s article, you’ll understand the importance of this essential mineral. It plays a major role in many functions throughout your body and can only be obtained through diet or supplementation.
So let’s take a look at the 7 most important health benefits of selenium!
Free radicals are normal byproducts of bodily processes like metabolism. However, they can also be created by exposure to cigarettes, alcohol, processed foods, stress, and more.
Free radicals are unstable atoms that damage the cells of your body, causing what’s known as oxidative stress. [1]
Oxidative stress has been linked to several chronic conditions as well as premature aging, especially within the skin. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Thankfully, we have antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals, greatly reducing the damage they cause. Selenium is one of these antioxidants that can help keep your body free from oxidative stress! [7]
On top of reducing oxidative stress, selenium can help lower the risk of certain cancers.
This is because selenium has been found to not just reduce oxidative stress, but DNA damage, it can boost your immune system, and actually destroy cancer cells. [8]
A review of 69 studies that involved over 350,000 people found a clear link between higher levels of selenium in the blood and a lower risk of breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancer. [9]
Selenium has also been found to help people undergoing cancer treatment. For example, one study found that selenium supplements improved quality of life and reduced symptoms of chemo in women with cervical and uterine cancer. [10]
Low selenium levels have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. As such, maintaining levels of selenium can help keep your heart healthy.
In a review of 25 observational studies, a 50% increase in blood selenium levels was associated with a 24% reduction in the risk of heart disease. [11]
Selenium has also been shown to reduce markers of inflammation in the body, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
For example, an analysis of 16 studies which involved over 433,000 participants who had heart disease showed that daily selenium supplements decreased levels of certain inflammatory markers. Not only that, but it increased levels of glutathione – one of the most powerful antioxidants out there. [12]
This shows that selenium intake can help lower the risk of heart disease by decreasing both inflammation and oxidative stress within the body. This may greatly lower the risk of the buildup of plaque within the arteries, which has been known to cause strokes, heart attacks, and heart disease. [13]
Oxidative stress is believed to be involved in both the onset and progression of neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. [14]
Interestingly, several studies have shown that patients with Alzheimer’s disease have lower blood levels of selenium. [15, 16]
One study also found that eating Brazil nuts every day – one of the best sources of selenium – resulted in improved speech and mental functions in patients with mild cognitive impairment. [17]
On top of that, research has found that those on the Mediterranean diet – which is rich in high-selenium foods like nuts and seafood – have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. [18, 19]
The tissue in your thyroid contains a higher amount of selenium than anywhere else in your body. This is because selenium is integral for the proper functioning of your thyroid gland. [20]
Selenium plays an essential role in the production of thyroid hormones while protecting the organ against oxidative damage.
You want to ensure that your thyroid is healthy, as it regulates your metabolism and controls growth and development. [21]
Selenium deficiency has been linked to thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a type of hypothyroidism in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
One study which included over 6,000 people found that low selenium levels were associated with a higher risk of thyroid conditions. [22]
On top of that, some research has indicated that selenium supplements may help those with thyroid conditions. [23]
Your immune system keeps you healthy by targeting and eliminating anything that can threaten the health of your body, like bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
As an antioxidant, selenium plays an important role within the immune system, reducing inflammation and enhancing immunity.
Studies have found that high levels of selenium in the body enhances the immune response, while a deficiency actually harms immune cell function and leads to a slower immune response. [24]
Research has also indicated that selenium supplements may help bolster the immune system in those who are sick. [25]
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways that carry air in and out of the lungs. With asthma, these airways become inflamed and narrow. As such, the severity of asthma has been linked to increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. [26]
Due to this, selenium may be able to reduce the symptoms of asthma,
In fact, research suggests that people with asthma have lower blood levels of selenium. One study even found that asthmatic patients with higher levels of selenium has better lung function than those with lower levels. [27]
Selenium has also been found to reduce asthma symptoms. For example, one study found that giving people with asthma daily selenium supplements allowed them to better control their symptoms. [28]
Now you know the importance of ensuring that you get enough selenium. But it can be difficult to do so through diet alone.
For example, Brazil nuts are among the best sources of selenium. However, not all Brazil nuts are the same. One study looked at Brazil nuts from varying sources and found that some of the nuts had 288% of your recommended intake, while others only provided 11%. [29]
On top of that, you then have to hope that your body takes in all of that selenium so that it can actually benefit your health.
In my newest product, Complete Biotin Plus, the Plus stands for other compounds I’ve included other than biotin that can benefit not just your hair growth, but your health!
Selenium is one of these compounds!
And it’s infused with EverBella’s micelle liposomal formula so that you can be confident you’re getting enough of this important mineral each and every day.
To learn more about this, PLUS what other beneficial ingredients are in my Complete Biotin Plus formula…