Selenium is an essential trace mineral which is deficient in NZ soils and food crops harvested from those soils.

Coming from a farming background where Selenium was given to our animals every year because without it they could develop white muscle disease, infertility, poor growth and increased disease susceptibility. This was first noticed in the 1950's and discovered that the mineral Selenium was deficient in most New Zealand soils

Humans also require Selenium because studies have discovered that our disease susceptibility is similar to farm animals when our intake is deficient.

It is possible that many degenerative diseases, including cancer may be related to Selenium deficiency and further protection against such ailments improves by increasing your selenium intake.

There are 35 proteins in the body that require selenium to be synthesised and function. One of them is glutathione peroxidase, an important antioxidant enzyme.

Selenium is provided in 2 forms:

• Inorganic form selenite or selenate salts.
• Organic form selenium yeast or L-selenium.
• Organic selenium is in plant form and therefore absorbs directly into the body tissues which allows it to work faster and safer than inorganic selenium.

WHY ORGANIC SELENIUM?

• Organic selenium in plant form contains selenomethionine and other seleno amino acids.
• It is more effective and less toxic than selenium selenate and selenite salts.
• Organic selenium is very safe at total intakes of selenium up to 300 micrograms per day.

RECOMMENDATION: test your selenium level:

A blood test for selenium is recommended and this is a free add on when visiting the doctor. The blood selenium is tested as micromoles.

The New Zealand range is 0.5- 1.4 M/L

A minimum of 1.25 micromoles per litre of blood is required for maximum production of selenoproteins (American Journal of clinical Nutrition Aug 07)

WHY DO WE NEED IT?

• It is used by the body to make enzymes for antioxidant defence
• It helps to keep the body's supply of vitamins C & E intact
• It aids the thyroid gland and the immune system to work properly
• It has cancer-protective properties
• It assists with red blood cell metabolism
• It helps prevent chromosome damage
• It is necessary for male fertility
• It protects the heart function
• It improves brain-mood function
• It reduces asthma attacks
• It reduces arthritic stiffness, swelling & loss of joint function

Selenium Studies

• A Number of studies have shown cancer-protective effects of selenium. These include liver, prostate, bladder stomach & oesophageal cancers.
• Several studies have confirmed that low selenium is associated with heart attack and coronary disease
• Selenium is needed for proper functioning of the immune system and appears to be the key nutrient in counteracting virus activity.
• Selenium deficiency can make viruses more toxic and normally benign virus activity become pathogenic.
• Selenium is involved in several metabolic pathways that are relevant to rheumatic diseases.
• Low selenium status has been associated with a greater incidence of depression and negative states.
• Selenium slows down the onset and progression of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Degenerative conditions related to selenium deficiency

• Sudden infant death syndrome
• Kaschin-Beck disease-arthritis
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Asthma
• Acne
• Ovarian Cysts
• Cervical dysplasia
• Colorectal & Prostate cancer
• Psoriasis
• Oesophageal & stomach cancer
• Keshan disease-enlarged heart
• Autoimmune Thyroid disease

Selenium Toxicity

The body is at greater risk from selenium deficiency than selenium toxicity. Selenium is not harmful for most people until intakes exceed 800 micrograms daily The safest method of taking selenium is in tablet form which provides a measured daily dose.

The information in this article is extracts from research papers and written articles I personally do not supply selenium tablets but I do purchase them for my own personal Use from a very reliable source. I was tested for selenium and found to be deficient many Years ago and it was recommended I take selenium.

If you are interested in information regarding where to purchase the recommended Tablets please contact me through my website.