The function of selenium is closely related to vitamin E and it is a powerful antioxidant. Selenium facilitates the deactivation of certain free radicals and therefore helps to protect against many forms of cancer.
Regular intake of selenium is able to decrease the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer dramatically. Epidemiological studies suggest that the risk of cancer is reduced in areas where the soil is high in selenium. Low serum, dietary and soil selenium levels are particularly associated with lung, gastrointestinal tract and prostate cancers. Selenium deficiency is quite common, as many soils around the world are now selenium deficient.
Selenium is able to protect against several forms of skin cancer and oral or topical supplementation with the L-Selenomethionine form of selenium is effective in retarding some skin cancers induced by exposure to UV light.
Selenium is also a beneficial nutrient to the body’s immune system by stimulating the action of phagocytes (cells in the immune system that gobble the ‘baddies’), improving the defense response of T-Lymphocytes (immune army cells that attack cancer cells) and causing an increase in the size of the body’s thymus gland (the ‘maestro’ gland of the immune army).
Selenium used in combination with other minerals helps to increase our body’s levels of white blood cells. It stimulates B-Lymphocytes to produce more antibodies and is able to increase the body’s defenses by up to 3000 per cent if combined with Vitamin E, as it amplifies the health promoting effects of vitamin E. Selenium is able to detoxify harmful fats, inhibiting their cancer-causing potential. It counteracts the toxic effects of tobacco smoking and it also improves liver function.
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are carcinogens found in tobacco smoke and car exhaust fumes, which cause cancer if ingested or inhaled. Selenium retards the ability of PAH from converting to cancer-causing substances in the liver. Selenium binds (chelates) with many toxic minerals and facilitates their excretion from the body including arsenic, cadmium, lead and methyl forms of mercury via the faeces.
Selenium protects the immune system by preventing the formation of harmful free radicals and prevents the formation of certain types of tumours. It improves the ability of macrophages (immune system cells) to attack and destroy tumour cells. Selenium is also essential to the healthy functioning of the body’s reproductive organs in both men and women and an adequate amount of selenium in the body will guard against problems to these organs.
In Australia, Naturopaths are no longer able to prescribe good amounts of selenium, as before. There is no logical reason for this, besides once again, the profit-making capacity of a very effective mineral. Doctors have taken over the role of dispensing selenium, with a prescription only. So if you require selenium, ask for liquid form of sodium selenite from your doctor. Take as directed by your health care practitioner.
Colorectal Cancer
A low selenium intake is thought to increase one’s chance of developing colon cancer, compared to people with a high selenium intake. Selenium is a potent antioxidant that is now found in low amounts in the foods that we eat.
Lung Cancer
As mentioned previously, Selenium is a potent antioxidant that helps to retard against damage to cells while removing harmful cancer-causing substances from the body. A person’s risk of developing lung cancer is reduced with a higher selenium intake.
Good sources of selenium include wheat-germ, wheat-bran, barley, mushrooms, asparagus, garlic, tuna, herring, onions, radish, liver, tomatoes, potatoes, celery, brewers yeast, cabbage and shellfish.
Most soils throughout the world are selenium deficient.
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