Health Benefits of Selenium from Oyster Mushrooms-By Dr.Kalonga,AE.

Selenium is a trace mineral found naturally in the soil that also appears in certain foods and there are even small amounts in water.

Selenium is an extremely vital mineral for the human body as it increases immunity, takes part in antioxidant activity that defends against free radical damage and inflammation, and plays a key role in maintaining a healthy metabolism.
According to studies, consuming plenty of naturally occurring selenium has positive antiviral effects, is essential for successful male and female fertility and reproduction, and also reduces the risk of cancer, autoimmune and thyroid diseases.
 Here are just a few ways that selenium benefits your body:-
  
1. Acts as an Antioxidant & Defends Against Oxidative Stress.
Selenium benefits include the ability to fight the aging process and help the immune system by reducing free radical damage. Selenium has a synergistic effect with other antioxidants like Vitamin E, enabling the body to fight oxidative stress and to defend against cancers like prostate and colon cancer.
Selenium is an essential component of glutathione peroxidase, which is an important enzyme for processes that protect lipids (fats) in cell membranes. Selenium is needed to fight oxidative degradation of cells and to protect against mutation and DNA damage that can cause disease.

2. Helps Defend Against Cancer .
Selenium is especially helpful if you have a weak immune system or a history of cancer in your family. Interventions using selenium treatments at high doses have shown that selenium benefits anti-cancer abilities within the body.
According to studies, selenium is effective at reducing the risk of cancer incidence, cancer caused mortality, and severity of cancers specifically in the liver, prostate, colo-rectal and lungs.

Selenium acts like a little mechanic within the body. It goes into the nucleus of cell where the DNA and genome are stored and finds damage. It attaches to protective antioxidants like glutathione and then works to reduce and repair damage done to DNA, which left uncontrolled could lead to cancerous cell mutation and tumor growth.
It does this because selenium has a special job of activating selenoproteins, acting in an enzymic role that helps antioxidants to do their job best. There is evidence that selenium benefits include not only being able cut cancer risk but also help to slow down existing cancer progression and tumor growth.

 3. Can Help Boost Fertility.

Selenium is required for proper sperm motility and also increases blood flow, two key components involved in conception and beating infertility. Selenium is incorporated in the sperm mitochondria capsule and may affect the behavior and function of the sperm as they move through the vaginal canal.

It appears that both low and high sperm selenium concentrations are reported to have a negative influence on the number of sperm, therefore aiming to meet the recommendation but not to far exceed it is important for fertility.
Some studies also show that selenium may even reduce the risk of miscarriage, however at this point more research has been dedicated to infertility in men than in women when it comes to selenium supplementation.

 4. Regulates Thyroid Function.
Research is now showing, through numerous studies, that there is a link between thyroid metabolism and selenium deficiency. Selenium acts as a catalyst for the production of active thyroid hormones.
If you imagine that your body is a manufacturing facility, the your thyroid would be the main boss in charge of regulating the whole operating system, so when the thyroid isn’t working properly, there are many serious, noticeable consequences.
The thyroid gland controls numerous important everyday body functions including appetite, sleep, temperature, weight, energy, and more.
A problem with proper thyroid function can result in negative symptoms such as irritability, muscle weakness, fatigue, weight gain or loss, trouble sleeping, and many other reactions, therefore acquiring proper amounts of selenium benefits the thyroid and body in many important ways.
A deficiency in selenium is correlated with problems within the thyroid and how it synthesizes the proper hormones, therefore more and more we can see the value of using selenium supplements to treat autoimmune and thyroid disorders.
Selenium acts as a powerful protector of the thyroid and regulates the production of reactive oxygen within the gland, and protects it from antibodies that can create thyroid disease.
5. Boosts Immunity.
According to studies, selenium is needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, and can also be a key nutrient in counteracting the development of viruses including HIV. In patients who already contracted HIV, selenium has been shown to also be useful in slowing down the progression of the disease into AIDS.

6. Helps Reduce Asthma Symptoms.
Observational studies have demonstrated that patients with chronic asthma may have lower levels of selenium. According to studies, when people with asthma took selenium supplements, they experienced less asthma related symptoms than those who took a placebo.
Experts think that selenium supplementation may be a useful add-on treatment to medication for patients with chronic asthma.  However more research is needed before this becomes a regular practice, as they have yet to determine selenium’s full effect on lung function.

7. Improves Blood Flow & Lowers Chance of Heart Disease. 

Low selenium concentrations are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Selenium supplements or an increase of selenium-rich foods may be able to help prevent coronary heart disease.It’s believed that selenium can benefit heart health once again, by its ability to fight inflammation, increase blood flow, reduce free radical oxidative stress, and help with antioxidant activity.

To date, selenium concentrations have been inversely associated with coronary heart disease risk in observational studies, however observational studies can at times lead to misleading evidence and so findings are still inconclusive as to whether selenium will be commonly prescribed for heart disease patients going forward.

8. Increases Longevity.
Studies have shown just how important this vital mineral is to our health and longevity. If you want to live a long, vibrant life, selenium is definitely a mineral you want to include in your diet.
Selenium has also been studied for the treatment of dozens of conditions that range from asthma to arthritis; from thyroid disorder to heart disease. The risk of these conditions increase as we age, so consuming selenium can help to defend the body and contribute to a long life.
Selenium is a trace mineral, which means we only need a small amount of it. However our body is able to flush selenium out of your system somewhat quickly since it plays an actionable role in many important body functions, therefore it’s important to consume it regularly especially as you age in order to take advantage of all of these mentioned selenium benefits.

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