7 Science-Based Health Benefits of Selenium:- One mineral that you can get from your diet is selenium. It can assist in maintaining the immune system, thyroid function, metabolism, and overall health of your body.
7 Science-Based Health Benefits of Selenium
Selenium is an incredible nutrient that you may not be familiar with, yet it is crucial to your well-being. Since selenium is a necessary mineral, you must get it through food. While your body only needs little amounts of it, it is crucial for several vital functions, such as thyroid function and metabolism. This article lists seven scientifically supported health advantages of selenium.
1. Acts as a powerful antioxidant
Foods high in antioxidants help shield cells from the harm that free radicals can do.
Free radicals are natural result of everyday bodily functions including metabolism.
Free radicals may have a bad reputation, but they are vital to good health. They carry out crucial tasks, like as shielding your body from illness.
However, excessive levels of free radicals can result from factors including stress, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Oxidative stress results from this, harming healthy cells.
2. May reduce your risk of certain cancers
Selenium has been shown to reduce oxidative stress as well as the risk of several malignancies.
This has been linked to selenium’s capacity to strengthen your immune system, combat cancer cells, and lessen oxidative stress and DNA damage.
A study of 69 research including over 350,000 participants revealed that high blood selenium levels were linked to a lower risk of certain malignancies, such as prostate, lung, breast, and colon cancers.
It’s crucial to remember that this impact was only linked to selenium that was consumed in food, not supplements.
On the other hand, some studies indicate that selenium supplements may lessen radiation therapy side effects.
3. May protect against heart disease
Low selenium levels have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, therefore eating a diet high in selenium may help keep your heart healthy.
A 50% increase in blood selenium levels was linked to a 24% lower risk of heart disease in an analysis of 25 observational studies.
Additionally, selenium may reduce inflammatory indicators in the body, which is one of the primary risk factors for heart disease.
One evaluation, for instance, examined 16 controlled trials involving more than 433,000 individuals with heart disease and found that supplementing with selenium lowered levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP).
ALSO SEE
4. Helps prevent mental decline
Alzheimer’s disease is a terrible illness that impairs thinking and behaviour in addition to causing memory loss. It ranks as the sixth most common cause of death in the US.
The population suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is increasing. Therefore, it is crucial to discover methods of preventing this degenerative illness.
It is thought that oxidative stress has a role in the development of neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s.
5. Is important for thyroid health
For your thyroid gland to operate correctly, you need selenium. Indeed, the human body’s thyroid tissue has the highest concentration of selenium of any organ.
This potent mineral is crucial to the synthesis of thyroid hormones and helps shield the thyroid from oxidative damage.
It’s critical to have a healthy thyroid gland because it governs growth and development as well as metabolism.
6. Boosts your immune system
Your immune system recognises and neutralises any dangers to keep your body healthy. They consist of parasites, viruses, and bacteria.
An essential component of a healthy immune system is selenium. Your body experiences less oxidative stress when using this antioxidant, which lowers inflammation and boosts immunity.
Research has indicated a correlation between elevated blood selenium levels and improved immunological response.
However, deficiencies have been demonstrated to impair immune cell activity and could cause a delayed immunological response.
7. May help reduce asthma symptoms
The airways that carry air into and out of the lungs are impacted by the chronic illness known as asthma.
The symptoms that result from this inflammation and narrowing of the airways include coughing, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Elevations of oxidative stress and inflammation in the body have been linked to asthma.
Some research indicates that selenium may help lessen the symptoms associated with asthma because of its capacity to lower inflammation.
