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What is selenium and why do we need it?

Selenium is found in the enzymes and proteins that protect your body against infections and cell damage. It’s stored in muscle tissue and the thyroid gland and is crucial to a properly functioning metabolism. Before we count down to the best selenium supplement, we’ll list a few key roles that this mineral plays in your health:

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• Serves as an antioxidant: Selenium reduces free radicals, which destroy cells.
• Protects against heart disease: The antioxidant properties improve blood flow to help fight cardiovascular disease.
• Protects against some types of cancer, including colorectal cancer and liver cancer. The best selenium supplement will protect the body’s DNA, and in some cases, repair damaged cells which often lead to cancer.

• Boosts the immune system: The selenoprotein found in selenium plays a key role in protecting the body from many viruses, including HIV. The best selenium supplement will counteract the deficiencies that lead to compromised immune cell function.
• Staves off Alzheimer’s disease: Scientists have discovered that antioxidants improve cognitive function in older adults.
• Produces thyroid hormones: A selenium deficiency leads to an inactive thyroid, which slows down the metabolism. The best selenium supplement will encourage the production of iodine in the thyroid and protect this gland from antibodies that can lead to thyroid disease.
• Helps reduce symptoms of asthma: A government study finds young asthma patients often have low levels of selenium. The patients who were given the best selenium supplement saw significant improvement.

• Helps grow hair and nails: By regulating your thyroid, selenium stimulates your hair follicles to produce the protein they need for hair growth and increases your body’s ability to absorb the calcium it needs for strong nails.
• Supports reproduction: The right amount of selenium can boost a man’s sperm count and a woman’s blood flow, making it easier to conceive. It should be noted, however, that too much selenium can interfere with the ability to reproduce.

You probably get the daily recommended 55 to 200 micrograms of selenium in your daily diet, but if you’re eating on the run, fasting, or are pregnant or nursing, you’ll want to find the best selenium supplement to avoid chronic health problems.

Sources of selenium

Since selenium is a mineral found naturally in the soil, most fruits, vegetables, and grains grown in that soil will contain a good amount. The meat of animals that feed on those plants and grain will also contain it. A selenium-rich diet includes:

• Beef
• Poultry
• Pork
• Eggs
• Organ meats
• Breads
• Beans and lentils
• Cereals
• Saltwater fish and seafood
• Brazil nuts and walnuts
• Mushrooms
• Bananas

Eating these foods sounds easy enough, but even the right diet doesn’t guarantee you’re getting the proper daily dose of selenium. People who grow their own food (often in indoor, hydroponic gardens) often use selenium-poor soil. Kidney dialysis patients and those living with HIV often don’t have the ability to absorb the needed selenium from their diet. This deficiency could lead to:

• Heart disease
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Cognitive decline
• Infertility

This is why it’s imperative to find the best selenium supplement.

The best selenium supplement: 5 choices

Selenium is available in multivitamins and dietary supplements. We’ve researched the top five which offer the best benefits at the recommended dosage. We’ve selected these five top contenders based on their price, the daily amount you’ll need to take, and their ingredients (more specifically, whether they contain known allergens).

1. 1.     Thorne Selenium: A bottle of 60 capsules will cost you about $10 or 17 cents for each daily capsule. Thorne does not contain any gluten, peanuts, eggs, or shellfish, which can cause an adverse reaction in some people.
2. 2.     Nutricost Selenium: This selenium supplement is less expensive at $16 for 240 daily capsules. It’s the perfect choice for vegetarians and is also soy and gluten-free.

3. Purely Holistic Selenium: $18 will buy you a year’s supply of 365 capsules at just 5 cents per day.  Purely Holistic uses non-GMO ingredients and a formula that contains L-selenomethionine, which some people find easier to digest. Be advised: Some people complain the pills have a slight odor.
4. Pure Encapsulations Selenium: 60 capsules sell for about $12.50 or 21cents for each daily capsule. This supplement is gluten-free and does not contain any peanuts, eggs, artificial colors, or sweeteners.
5. Go Nutrients Selenium Drops: A $20 bottle contains about 100 doses if you take the recommended six drops per day. That comes out to 20 cents per day. Many people who have trouble swallowing pills prefer the Go Nutrients selenium drops which also allow you to regulate the dosage, should you need less than 200 micrograms a day.

We also found a sixth product that’s worth mentioning, Acutia Selenium. A packet of 30 pills will cost you $30 or about $1.25 per capsule. They also offer a product called Brain Health which contains selenium. Both products are made from a specialized strain of the brewer’s yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae, a probiotic which improves gut health. While this brand has an informative website and products that appear interesting, we were unable to obtain an interview with the company’s management or sufficient product reviews at the time of this writing in order to make an informed recommendation to our readers.

We chose these five top contenders for the title of best selenium supplement because they all contain 200 micrograms. While it may be tempting to take more, please note too much selenium can cause minor side effects.  The best selenium supplement will contain just the right amount of this helpful mineral.  With the right research, you can find the one that’s right for you.                    

Further Reading For Additional Reference:

Harvard.edu: Selenium

National Institute of Health: Selenium

Medical News Today: 15 Foods High in Selenium

National Library of Medicine: The Role of Selenium in Inflammation and Immunity: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities

National Library of Medicine: Selenium Deficiency

Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.