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Selenium
Besides being an antioxidant
itself, selenium increases the antioxidant effects of vitamin E and vitamin
C. It also joins forces with vitamin E to create the powerful antioxidant
glutathione peroxidase. Adding vitamin C to that combination can raise your
glutathione levels fivefold. Glutathione is an important amino acid that
neutralizes free radicals, particularly those that attack fat molecules and
turn them rancid. It is also vital for promoting a healthy immune system.
If you're trying to keep your
aging body firm and flexible, selenium will move you closer to your goal.
This mineral helps keep body tissues elastic, which slows the aging process
even more.
Takes agony out of
arthritis. Glutathione helps soothe your joints by reducing the
production of the prostaglandins and leukotrienes that make them ache. If
you take selenium with vitamin E, you can reduce your pain and stiffness
even more. For relief, experts recommend taking 100 and 200 micrograms (mcg)
of selenium per day along with 100 to 200 milligrams (mg) of vitamin E.
Aces asthma. If
your diet is low in selenium, you may increase your risk of developing
asthma. a New Zealand study by the Wellington School of Medicine and the
University of Otago showed that study participants with the lowest blood
levels of selenium had nearly twice the risk of asthma. Several other
studies have reported similar findings.
Cuts cancer risk. When scientists
studied the selenium levels in more than 20 countries and compared them to
cancer rates, guess what they found ? The lower the selenium, the higher the
risk of cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, lungs, ovary, pancreas,
rectum, and skin. Leukemia rates also rose.
The latest studies on selenium
and cancer continue to suggest a strong link between low selenium levels and
a high cancer risk. The most recent study found that taking 200 mcg of
selenium a day may slash your risk of prostate, colon, and lung cancer in
half.
Researchers suspect selenium
fights cancer by boosting immune function, preventing cancerous mutations,
and repairing damaged cells.
Minds your mental health.
Finnish researchers studying a small group of senior citizens found that
vitamin E and selenium supplements improved the seniors' ability to care for
themselves. They also felt more alert, and less anxious and hostile.
Another selenium study at
University College in Swansea, Wales produced similar results. every day for
five weeks, each member of the study group took either 100 mcg of selenium
or a placebo ( a fake pill). The participants taking the selenium supplement
improved in mood and anxiety level. Those taking the placebo reported no
improvement.
Interestingly, the changes
appeared to be linked to how low a person's selenium level was before the
study. The more deficient he was, the more likely he was to report feeling
tired, depressed, or anxious, and the more he was helped by even a moderate
amount of selenium.
Eases eyesight problems.
Selenium also may prevent one of the most common eye complications of aging
-- cataracts. Glutathione helps protect the lens of your eye from damaging
free radicals that can lead to cataracts. Since you can't make glutathione
without selenium, you may get cataracts more easily if you lack this
important mineral. Studies do show that a lens obscured by a cataract only
contains 15 percent of a normal lens' level of selenium.
In a similar way, selenium and
vitamin E also may help protect your retina from macular degeneration, a
common disorder in older people that causes gradual vision loss.
Keeps heart healthy.
Selenium improves the supply of oxygen to the heart. It also helps form
prostaglandins, hormone-like fatty acids that can help lower blood pressure
and prevent blood clots.
A selenium deficiency can lead to
free radical damage that may cause the LDL "bad" cholesterol to clog up your
arteries more easily, increasing your risk of heart disease.
A study in Denmark found that men
with the lowest blood levels of selenium were 1.7 times more likely to
suffer from cardiovascular complications. And in nearby Finland, a country
plagued by heart disease, researchers found that people who had high blood
selenium levels were 60 percent less likely to develop heart problems than
those with low levels.
Invigorates your immune
system. As you age and your body begins to break down, you become
ore susceptible to different diseases. It doesn't help that your normally
vigilant immune system begins to slack off on its duties, too. However,
here's where selenium can help you beat Mother Nature at her own sly game.
A supplement of selenium and beta
carotene significantly improved immune functions in a group of older folks,
according to a recent study at the University of Arizona. And pairing
selenium with vitamin E helps your body produce glutathione, which boosts
the efficiency of your immune system and reduces your risk of infection and
cancer.
Studies with rats suggest
selenium may prevent normally harmless viruses from turning vicious or
actually undergoing genetic changes that make you sick. If researchers find
they can apply these results to other viruses, such as hepatitis, influenza,
or the AIDS virus, they may hold one of the critical keys to controlling
such devastating diseases.
Supports your sex life.
If you're a man, almost half your body's supply of selenium is located in
your testicles and in the semen ducts next to your prostate. Sperm cells
also contain a good supply of selenium. Every time you ejaculate, you lose
some selenium. To keep sexual satisfaction at its highest, it's important to
get enough selenium in your diet to replace those lost stores. |
