What is Selenium?

Selenium functions as an antioxidant and is a trace element that’s paramount for good health maintenance by hunting damaging free radicals that aim to harm cells in the body. Selenium is found in almost every single cell in the body. The organs where the highest selenium concentrations are found are the kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, and testes.

Selenium can be found in beef, Brazil nuts, cereal, chicken, cod, eggs, fish, fruits, meat, tuna, vegetables, and yeast. The amount of selenium found in fruits or vegetables depends on the amount of the selenium content in the soil that it was grown in. The more selenium-depleted the soil, the more selenium-depleted the food.

Selenium is praised to have protection against aging; arthritic aches and pains; cancers like colorectal, prostate, and skin; cold sores; heart attack; lupus; macular degeneration; shingles; skin disorders; and stroke. Selenium is also noted to improve the body’s response to flu vaccinations.

Selenium also helps the thyroid gland to function properly.

Selenium helps to regulate blood pressure and inflammation control.

Selenium also helps to detoxify the body by the production of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase.

What does a selenium deficiency mean?

A deficiency in selenium increases inflammation and infection opportunities. People with a selenium deficiency are significantly less able to fight against free radicals.

A deficiency in selenium makes the body more sensitive to biochemical stresses, infectious diseases, and nutritional imbalances. An enlarged heart or mental retardation can result from this.

An interesting sidenote, selenium is also recommended for animals.

Why is our immune system important?

A healthy immune system is what protects us from illness and disease. In fact, research proves AIDS patients who have a selenium deficiency are 20 times greater to suffer an AIDS-related death than those patients with sufficient selenium in their body.

The immune system is a very complex system that involves processes to both protect organisms against attacks by malignancy and pathogens.

Immune system functions are characterized by inflammatory mechanisms that when left unaddressed can lead to cancer, coronary heart disease, immunity, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Why selenium benefits our immune system

Simply put, selenium boosts our immune system.

Recent studies are now showing the benefits selenium improves to the body’s immune system. An enhanced cellular immune response was noted in the subjects being tested.

Selenium is important for the development and function capability of thymic cells.

Selenium specifically acts against bacteria that can cause endotoxic shock (bacterial toxins that produce death). This is important because more than 100,00 deaths occur per year in the United States because of infection in American hospitals. Further, the #1 cause of death in American intensive care units is the failure of multiple organs.

Selenium is essential for our immune system to function at optimal performance.

Selenium has influence over the nonadaptive and adaptive immune systems. The nonadaptive immune system includes fighting against infections and macrophages. The adaptive immune system includes maturation when exposed to immune challenges.

Selenium supplementation is suggested for older people to protect them against influenza.

Because selenium deficiencies are noted in sufferers of autoimmune diseases, selenium supplementation is advised.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/vitamins-supplements-8/supplement-guide-selenium
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/eating-good-health