Selenium is a trace mineral which is necessary to great health in only small amounts. When incorporated into proteins, selenoprotein is made to become as an important
antioxidant enzyme. According to the Office of
Dietary Supplements of the National Institute of
Health , selenoproteins aid prevent cellular damage from free radicals that are the by-products of oxygen metabolism and which sometimes contribute to the rise of acute diseases such as heart disease and cancer. They are also important in regulating thyroid function and in helping maintain the body’s immune system. A high level of selenium deficiency, therefore, may give rise to a weakened immune system that can make the body more susceptible to diseases. Among these known diseases that are created by selenium deficiency are the Keshan disease, characterized by an enlarged heart and poor heart function; the Kashin-Beck disease, that results in osteoarthropathy, a disease of the joint; and the Myxedematous Endemic Cretinism that brings about mental retardation.
Selenium deficiency can be corrected with certain foods like those that come from plants in selenium-rich soil, or meats of animals that feed on grains or plants grown in selenium-rich soil. The other foods that are sources of selenium are Brazil nuts, canned tuna, cooked beef, turkey meat, chicken breast, noodles, spaghetti with meat sauce, egg, oatmeal, white rice or brown rice, cheddar cheese, walnut, and whole wheat bread, among others. These can be complemented by selenium
supplements in staple foods like corn and soybean, and in “high-selenium yeasts” in the form of selenomethionine, which was once used in large-scale prevention of cancer in the United States in 1981. The people who need selenium supplements, which are usually in tablet and capsule forms, are those with severe gastrointestinal problems cause by selenium deficiency, or those who have gone surgery to remove a defective part of their stomach. They include those with severe illness complicated by inflammation and infection, and those with iodine deficiency that impairs their thyroid’s functions.
Selenium has been found to have medical uses and provide numerous health benefits. It can treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels, stroke and hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis . It can prevent various types of cancer and treat thyroid dysfunction, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid
arthritis . The other conditions which selenium can deal with include muscular degeneration, infertility, hay fever, cataracts, gray hair, arsenic poisoning, chronic fatigue syndrome, and mood disorders. A substance known as selenium sulfide, is an important ingredient in anti-dandruff shampoos and body lotions. These shampoos eradicate scalp fungus, while the body lotions treat tinea versicolor, a fungal skin infection, that occurs due to infection by different fungi.
Taking too much selenium poses health risks as overdose of
selenium supplements results in many unwanted symptoms. These risks can be prevented by an intake of selenium at tolerable level per day, and by taking a healthy diet that emphasizes a variety of whole grains and fruits and vegetables.
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