What is selenium?
Selenium is a type of antioxidant. (1)
a type of a mineral
What does selenium do?
Selenium is a glutathione cofactor. (1)
Selenium adequacy is directly related to glutathione adequacy. (1)
helps the body makes glutathione (2)
What happens if a person has low selenium?
Low selenium levels are associated with an increased incidence of cancer and heart disease. (1)
a lack of selenium can lead to Heinz bodies forming (2)
What happens if a person has excess selenium?
Excess selenium can lead to increased oxidative stress rather than relieve it.
What foods contain selenium?
What contains NO selenium?
yellow raw peaches (3)
raw carrots (3)
raw iceberg lettuce (3)
Selenium and Humans
What is the RDA for selenium for humans?
The RDA for men is 55 mcg per day. (1)
| Age | Male | Female | Pregnancy | Lactation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth to 6 months | 15 mcg* | 15 mcg* | ||
| 7–12 months | 20 mcg* | 20 mcg* | ||
| 1–3 years | 20 mcg | 20 mcg | ||
| 4–8 years | 30 mcg | 30 mcg | ||
| 9–13 years | 40 mcg | 40 mcg | ||
| 14–18 years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg | 60 mcg | 70 mcg |
| 19–50 years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg | 60 mcg | 70 mcg |
| 51+ years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg |
Dr. Berg recommends, to eat 200 mcg per day here at 6:40
What is the upper limit for selenium per day?
Consume no more than 400 mcg per day (1)
Resources
1. https://honehealth.com/edge/health/best-glutathione-foods/
2. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-heinz-body-anemia
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/brazil-nuts-benefits#nutritious
4. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/
