From Healthy Food Whisperer
[post_ads]Selenium is one of the most important micronutrients. Selenium is
essential mineral with very powerful anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and
anti-cancer properties. It was discovered 200 years ago by Baron Jons
Jacob Berzelius, the chemist from Sweden.
Mark
Whitacre, Ph.D. is a leading expert on selenium. He has Ph.D. in
nutritional biochemistry. While studying on Cornell University under
the supervision of F. Combs Jr. Ph.D., the leading authority on selenium, he conducted a research on the role of selenium on pancreatic cells.
Selenium in Health and Disease Prevention
Selenium has two very significant roles:
- Selenium, at cellular level, is active compound of glutathione peroxidase, which is enzyme that has very strong antioxidant properties and has an ability to defend the cells against build-up of damaging free radicals.
- Selenium has important role in prevention of cancer, by decreasing free radicals that are one of the major causes of this disease.
Excessive Selenium Deficiency + Iron = Bad News
Iron
reacts with hydrogen peroxide to make free radicals. Free radicals may
damage cell membranes, mitochondrial DNA, and proteins, and by doing so
they may cause early death of mitochondria.
It is highly
recommended to test iron levels once a year and to retain iron level
between 20 and 80 ng/mL (nanogram per milliliter). Ideal iron level is
one between 40 and 60 ng/mL.
Low iron levels may be a huge
problem, but it is easily cured with iron supplements. As a matter of
fact most of the people have too much iron, above all premenopausal
women and children. High iron levels together with hydroxyl catalyze
free radicals, and if there is deficit of selenium it makes the
situation even worst.
Check Your Iron Levels
[post_ads]Mark Whitacre claims that excessive iron in the body does produce some challenges. As proven in his study, chickens that had selenium deficiency are prone to pancreatic fibrosis. Chickens that were put on selenium restricted diet couldn’t survive more than 21 – 28 days. The first thing that has been noticed by researchers as damaged in these chickens was damages on mitochondrial membranes. Basically, hydrogen peroxide, while oxidizing, is attacking lipids.The Selenium-Cancer
The
first study of The Selenium Cancer Connection was done by Combs,
followed research done by Larry C. Clark, Ph.D., former director of
epidemiology program of Arizona Cancer Center’s at the University of
Arizona. Combs and Clark, in 1983, had conducted a 10 year research
study in which they compared two groups; one was taking 200 mcg
(micrograms) of selenium supplement on a daily basis, and the other
didn’t receive any selenium supplements.
Research study proved
that there was a 50 – 63 % of reduction in colon cancer, prostate and
lung (the highest number of 63 % rate reduction was in prostate cancer).
This
study was possibly the first study that actually observed the impact of
selenium supplements on cancer reduction. Dozens of studies followed
that have proven these findings to be right. Studies have revealed that
the most effective form of selenium is Seleno Excell high selenium
yeast. Other forms, like selenomethionine and sodium selenite, didn’t
have the same effects as Seleno Excell high selenium yeast.
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Best Sources of Selenium
In
general, consuming unprocessed whole food naturally boosts your
selenium levels. Best sources of selenium are mushrooms, sardines, eggs
(organic), liver, Chia seeds, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, chicken,
salmon, and turkey.
See more at: Healthy Food Whisperer
