Selenium is a mineral that helps your body produce the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione peroxidase protects cell membranes from free radicals, which are byproducts of normal cell metabolism and are considered by many scientists to be the cause of aging.
Vegetables high in selenium include brazil nuts, tuna, codfish, liver and kidney, sunflower seeds and egg yolks. Other foods that contain selenium include whole grains, seafood and meats such as beef, chicken and pork.
Selenium deficiency is rare in the United States because selenium is found in high amounts in most foods grown here including grains, legumes and nuts. However, some people may not get enough selenium through their diet so supplementation may be necessary for them.
The recommended daily intake for adults is 55 micrograms per day from food sources only or 400 micrograms from all sources combined (food plus supplements). The upper limit for adults is 400 micrograms per day from all sources combined (food plus supplements).
Selenium is a mineral that’s important for the functions of your thyroid gland and immune system. It’s also involved in reproduction, DNA synthesis and protection from oxidative damage.
Selenium deficiency is rare in the United States, but it can occur in people who have celiac disease or who follow a strict vegan diet. Selenium is found in soil and water, so people who live in areas with high levels of selenium may be getting more than they need.
There are no recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for selenium because there’s no agreed-upon way to determine how much is needed by different individuals. You should aim to get enough selenium through your diet and not rely on supplements alone.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Database lists the following foods as good sources of selenium:
Selenium is a mineral that can be found in many foods, including meats, seafood, eggs, and whole-grain cereals. Selenium also is present in many high-fiber foods such as beans, nuts, and seeds.
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for selenium is 55 micrograms per day for adults. The upper limit of selenium is 400 micrograms per day.
There are different types of this mineral:
elemental selenium compounds — sodium selenite and sodium selenate
organic selenium compounds — methylseleno-l-methionine (MSM), methylselenocysteine (MSC), selenomethionine (SeMet), and selenoamino acids such as selenomethionine (SeMet)
Selenium is a mineral found in soil, water and some foods. It’s an essential trace element and plays a vital role in human health.
Selenium aids in the production of antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Selenium also works with vitamin E to support the immune system.
The recommended daily intake of selenium is 55 micrograms (mcg), but most people consume much less than this amount each day due to selenium depletion in soil, inadequate dietary intake and lack of selenium-rich foods.
Selenium deficiency has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, selenium may help prevent some types of cancer, maintain healthy skin and hair, improve male fertility, reduce symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and reduce incidence of colds or flu if taken as a supplement before getting sick
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for selenium is 55 micrograms per day for men and women, with an upper limit of 400 micrograms per day. Selenium is found in a wide variety of foods, including meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and carrots also contain significant amounts of selenium.
The best way to get enough selenium is to eat a varied diet that includes these foods. However, if you have kidney disease, liver disease or diabetes — conditions that can affect your body’s ability to absorb nutrients — you may need more than the RDA.
If you’re at risk of developing selenium deficiency or if you have any serious medical condition that affects your nutritional status, consult your doctor before taking supplements.
Selenium is an essential mineral that can be found in foods like seafood, grains, eggs and dairy products.
Selenium deficiency is rare in the United States. Most healthy people get enough selenium from their diets. However, vegetarians and elderly people may need more of this mineral to keep their body tissues healthy.
Selenium and health
Selenium is one of the trace elements found in soil, water and air. It’s an essential mineral for humans, but only in small amounts. As little as 50 parts per billion (ppb) of selenium in soil can be enough to prevent a deficiency disease known as Keshan disease from developing in China.
The average daily intake of selenium ranges from 55 to 200 micrograms (μg). The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 55 μg for adult men and women; 70 μg for pregnant women; and 80 μg for breastfeeding women. However, some research suggests that higher amounts may be needed to prevent certain diseases:
Selenium is a trace mineral that is found in most foods.
Selenium plays an important role in many aspects of health and can be a powerful antioxidant.
It’s also important to note that selenium deficiency can have serious health consequences, so it’s important to get enough of this mineral in your diet.
Here’s what you need to know about the importance of selenium and how much you should be consuming each day:
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that is a vital part of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which protects your body from free radicals and the damage they can cause. Selenium also plays an important role in immune system health and thyroid function.
The recommended daily intake for selenium for adults is 55 mcg (micrograms). However, this amount may vary depending on your age, gender, pregnancy status and other factors.
No upper tolerable limit has been set for selenium because toxicity from excessive intake is not known to occur. Too much selenium may cause gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The selenium content of a food is measured in micrograms (mcg) of selenium per serving. To get the most from your food, it’s important to eat a variety of foods that contain this essential mineral. Nuts are a great way to add selenium to your diet as they contain fiber and healthy fats.
Nuts are also high in other nutrients, including protein, magnesium and vitamin E.
The following table shows the amount of selenium in nuts:
Nut Serving size Selenium content (mcg)
Almonds 1 ounce 21.6
Brazil nuts 1 ounce 13
Cashews 1 ounce 7.9
Macadamia nuts 1 ounce 11.4
Pine nuts 1/4 cup 6
Peanuts 1 ounce 5.5
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that plays a vital role in protecting cells from oxidative damage. Selenium deficiency is very rare in the U.S., since it is found in many foods, including whole grains, meat, fish and shellfish.
Selenium deficiency causes Keshan disease, a disease that affects mostly children and can lead to heart failure. It has also been linked to reduced sperm count and fertility in men.
The recommended daily intake of selenium for adults is 55 micrograms for women and 70 micrograms for men, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, pregnant women should take 75 micrograms per day and lactating mothers should get 90 micrograms per day.
Selenium-rich foods include:
Brazil nuts (1 ounce): 62 mcg
Tuna (3 ounces): 37 mcg
Beef liver (3 ounces): 31 mcg
Selenium is an essential trace mineral. It’s required for the proper functioning of several key enzymes in the body, and its deficiency has been linked to heart disease, cancer, and other health problems.
Selenium is found in trace amounts in most foods, but some foods are particularly rich sources.
Here are a few:
Brazil nuts: 1 ounce (about 6 nuts) provides 55 percent of the RDA for selenium.
Cashews: 1 ounce (about 12 nuts) provides 19 percent of the RDA for selenium.
Almonds: 1 ounce (about 14 almonds) provides 18 percent of the RDA for selenium.
Pecans: 1 ounce (about 11 pecans) provides 14 percent of the RDA for selenium.
Walnuts: 1 ounce (about 8 walnuts) provides 12 percent of the RDA for selenium.