In order to obtain optimum selenium for healthy living, it is important to choose the type which is most bioavailable to the body. A recent study has found that a form of selenium know as selenomethionine is more greatly absorbed and utilized by the body than high-selenium yeast or selenium selenite. Over forty years of study has shown that selenium is effective in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, strokes, damage to fat cells, plaque formation in the arteries, macular degeneration and recent research suggests that it may significantly slow the progression of HIV virus.

Other benefits include slowing the aging process, accelerating healing, and promoting normal liver function. Selenium is an essential trace mineral vital to cell membrane protection from free radicals. It is essential to key mechanisms regulating the immune system and is important for maintaining healthy white blood cells. It is the building block to one of the bodies most powerful detoxifiers known as glutathione peroxidase. Selenium is one of forty essential nutrients for good health.

There are several factors that decrease natural levels of selenium in the blood which include poor diet, aging, disease and excess medication and alcohol use. Selenium deficiency lowers our resistance to infections because it inhibits the white blood cells ability to subdue and destroy invading viruses and bacteria. In one study it was found that people who contain normal blood levels of selenium increased their ability to kill tumor cells by over one hundred percent when they added a bioavailable selenium supplement. Another positive impact of adding supplements was an eighty two percent increase in cancer and micro-organism destroying cells.


The risk of developing all types of cancers is greater when selenium levels are deficient in the body. In a fifty four month selenium verses placebo study, the risk of death in those who took selenium supplements was decreased by fifty percent. Another study found that adding selenium supplements to the diet decreases the risk of prostate cancer by over sixty percent.

The thyroid contains the highest concentrations of selenium in the body. It is essential in maintaining a normal functioning thyroid. Research suggests that selenium supplementation may be helpful in treating some thyroid disorders.

Many seafoods today have some level of mercury contamination. Mercury is toxic to the human body and can damage the nervous system and the brain. Experts say that the eating fish once or twice a week for the nutritional value offered, outweighs the amount of exposure to mercury. Supplenting with selenium will reduce risk of mercury toxicity even further. A study conducted with individuals having low selenium levels found that after supplementing with selenium daily for four months, mercury levels in hair samples decreased by thirty four percent.


Eating a diet in selenium rich foods will allow you to maintain normal levels of selenium in the body. Foods high in selenium include brown rice, whole grains, salmon, shrimp and brazil nuts. When adding the selenium supplement selenomethionine to your diet, also add vitamin E because both work better together than taking either by themselves.

Doctors suggest taking 200-400 mcg of selenium per day for good health. Taking over 700 mcg per day could become toxic over time if you receive adequate amounts from food. In North America toxicity is rare because the average diet is selenium deficient. Even those who consume foods meant to be high in selenium may not be receiving as much as they think due to farming practices resulting in soil depletion. This reason alone makes supplementation with selenium a necessary practice. To insure you are getting maximum results and the best value for your money always choose selenomethionine.