Have you heard of selenium? Chances are that the majority of us haven't. However, this one little essential mineral is responsible for so many things in your body, and it's often overlooked. Selenium might be seldom talked about, but it's certainly not something that your body ignores. It's an entirely necessary trace mineral that is needed in all of your body's vital functions. It's a nutrient that your body needs but cannot produce on its own.
If you're not getting enough selenium in your diet, you will experience the following symptoms: a weakened immune system, brittle fingernails, hair loss, fatigue, and even irregular heartbeat. It's easy to see why selenium is an essential nutrient to your diet, even if you don't notice it.
So, What is Selenium?
Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential to your body. It is necessary for the production of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme is what helps to protect your body from oxidative damage.
It is also necessary for the formation of active thyroid hormone, the formation of blood vessels, and it is important in the production of sex hormones.
Not only that, but selenium is also a very significant nutrient for the production of sperm in men.
There are many benefits to including selenium in your diet, especially if you are a man. Not only can it help you to maximize your fertility, but it can also help to protect your body from disease.
How Does Selenium Boost Your Sperm Production?
Selenium is a trace mineral that is important in the production of sperm in men. It is responsible for the formation of sperm, and it helps to protect sperm from oxidative damage as well.
Selenium helps to keep sperm healthy by protecting them from free radicals that can damage sperm cells. It also helps to keep sperm motility (the ability to move) in check.
Many believe that increasing the amount of selenium in your diet may help to improve sperm motility and sperm count.
When you are trying to conceive, it's a good idea to make sure that you are getting enough selenium in your diet. Selenium is a very critical nutrient for sperm production, and it can help you to maximize your fertility!
Selenoproteins: The Proteins That Do it All
In your body, selenium is stored in selenoproteins. These proteins are made up of selenium, amino acids, and other nutrients. It is important to note that the selenium that is stored in your body is not free selenium. It is bound with other nutrients in an organic form. This means that it is not a mineral that you can take in supplemental form.
In your body, there are many selenoproteins that are responsible for a variety of functions. We have chosen to discuss three of the most important selenoproteins here.
Selenoprotein P:
This is a selenoprotein that is important in the formation of sperm. It is responsible for the spermatogenesis process, which is the process of sperm cell formation. This protein is also involved in the maintenance of sperm motility.
In order to optimize your fertility, it is important to make sure that you are getting enough selenium in your diet. Selenoprotein P is a very important selenoprotein that is needed for the production of sperm.
Selenoprotein W:
This protein is important in the maintenance of a healthy immune system. It works to keep your immune system functioning well, and it also works to protect your body from oxidative damage.
Your immune system is very important in your body, and it is responsible for protecting your body from disease. It is very important to keep your immune system in check, and this selenoprotein helps to do just that.
Selenoprotein M:
This selenoprotein is also very important for the formation of sperm. It works to help to protect sperm from oxidative damage. It is also involved in the motility of sperm, which is an important part of the process of conception.
It is important to note that selenium is not just important for the formation of sperm, but it is also essential for the conception of a child as well.
So, What is the Best Form of Selenium to Take?
Selenium is not a mineral that you can take in supplemental form. The selenium that is stored in your body is bound to other nutrients, and it is not free selenium. Because of this, it is not something that you can take in supplemental form.
The nutrients that are responsible for your body's store of selenium can come from a variety of foods.
Foods That Help Boost Your Selenium
The best way to get more selenium into your diet is by eating a variety of foods.
Plenty of foods have selenium in them, but the amount of selenium actually varies from food to food.
The following foods have higher amounts of selenium than others:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Buckwheat
- Oats
- Fish
- Vegetables
- Nuts
- Dairy
- Eggs
The Benefits of Selenium
1. Support for Cognitive Function
Selenium is a powerful antioxidant, and it's a powerful antioxidant when it comes to protecting your brain cells. Selenium is known to be beneficial for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, and it is also known to be beneficial for people with diabetes. Since selenium is an antioxidant, it will help to protect your brain cells from oxidative damage.
What is oxidative damage? Well, oxidative damage occurs when the free radicals in your body get out of control and start causing damage to your cells, such as brain cells. This is why people with diabetes and those who have high blood sugar levels are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.
That's why selenium is considered to be beneficial for cognitive function. It protects and prevents damage to the brain cells. It is a powerful antioxidant, and it helps to boost your immune system, as well as your thyroid function.
2. The Prevention of Cancer
Selenium is an antioxidant, and because it is such a powerful antioxidant, it is able to fight the free radicals that are produced when your body naturally breaks down. This is why it is thought to be beneficial to fight cancer. Cancer can be caused by oxidative damage, and the selenium in your body can help to prevent the damage and the spread of cancer.
More than that, selenium has anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is thought to play a role in the development of cancer, so selenium can help to prevent this.
Cancer can be caused by oxidative damage, and the selenium in your body can help to prevent the damage and the spread of cancer.
3. The Prevention of Heart Disease
Because selenium is an antioxidant, it is able to help to protect against the buildup of plaque in your arteries, which is what can lead to heart disease. Selenium helps to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which is what causes the buildup of plaque. This is why selenium is considered to be beneficial for cardiovascular health.
Preventing the buildup of plaque in the arteries is very important because the buildup can cause a condition known as atherosclerosis. This is the thickening of the arteries, which can lead to the development of plaque, which can lead to the development of heart disease, and numerous other problems.
4. Immune Function
Selenium is a very helpful antioxidant that helps to protect against free radical damage. Because it is such a powerful antioxidant, it can help to boost your immune function. It can help to boost your body's own antioxidant systems to help protect the cells and tissues in your body.
The immune system is so complex and each part serves a wide variety of purposes. Without a strong immune system, you can be much more susceptible to illness and disease. Selenium can help to boost the immune system and protect your body (and mind!)
5. Prevention and Treatment of Migraines
Selenium has been shown to have a positive effect on migraines and other headaches. Selenium can be a very effective treatment for migraines for those who suffer from them. The exact mechanism isn't fully understood, but there are thought to be many different ways that selenium can be beneficial for migraines.
Some of these include the fact that selenium is an antioxidant, which can help to prevent oxidative damage that can cause migraines. It is also thought to be beneficial for migraines because it can help to boost your immune function.
6. Aiding in Weight Loss
Selenium is an antioxidant, and because it is an antioxidant, it can help to fight the free radicals that can lead to the storage of fat in your cells. Free radicals are thought to play a role in the development of obesity, and selenium can help to fight those free radicals and prevent the body from storing fat.
Antioxidants help to fight the oxidative damage that can lead to the development of disease, which can also lead to the slowing down of your metabolism. Because of this, antioxidants can help to boost your metabolism.
Conclusion
Selenium definitely has a lot to offer when it comes to the health of your brain and your body. There are numerous studies that show that it can be beneficial for everything from preventing cancer and heart disease, to boosting your immune system and protecting your brain cells.
Studies have shown that selenium is able to protect your brain cells from damage and can also help to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease. It's definitely something that you should talk to your doctor about, but it's definitely something that you should consider adding to your diet.
This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. Your specific circumstances should be discussed with a healthcare provider. All statements of opinion represent the writers' judgement at the time of publication and are subject to change. Phoenix and its affiliates provide no express or implied endorsements of third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products, or services.