What is Selenium?

Selenium is another of the trace minerals needed for healthy bodies. It was first documented by Marco Polo who noted hoof loss in horses that ate grass from areas high in a certain salt, now determined to be selenium. Selenium is found primarily in the soil, and is passed on to plants and animals through ingestion of nutrients from the soil.

Seafood is often a good source of selenium, and in the United States meat and breads are good sources of selenium, as the soil in many farming areas is rich in this mineral. In the United States, most cases of selenium deficiency are due to severe gastrointestinal or digestive problems like Crohns disease. Widespread or severe infections also lead to selenium deficiency in some cases.

Selenium is an antioxidant, and high levels of selenium in the blood seem to afford some protection against several forms of cancer. By fighting the free radicals that attack cells and form cancers, selenium prevents cells from becoming cancerous. Antioxidants also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Selenium also has positive effects on the immune system, inhibiting allergic reactions and fighting bacterial infections. When combined with vitamin E it can reduce inflammation.

Accordingly, it is often used to treat asthma and bronchitis. Selenium has also been used to treat cirrhosis of the liver, and those with higher levels of selenium seem to suffer less damage to the liver. Interestingly, cataract and fibromyalgia patients also have lower levels of selenium than the general population, as do a majority of Alzheimer patients. Overuse of selenium can cause gastrointestinal upset, hair loss, irritability and fatigue. The first sign of selenium overuse is usually garlic like breath.

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant with many benefits. A selenium supplement can protect you from many serious illnesses.

Recommended Selenium Supplement

We have stumbled upon a company that produces a product that provides the highest quality of Selenium is Xtend-Life Natural Products from New Zealand. Xtend-Life has one of the strictest regulatory environments in the world for the manufacture of dietary supplements, far exceeding U.S. FDA standards.

Their flagship product, Total Balance, contains standardized Selenium, along with many other potent herbal supplement extracts, numerous vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other speciality nutrients, many of which are documented in this site.

We here at www.InstantHealthSecret.com personally take Xtend-Life's Total Balance as the foundation of our own health regimen and have achieved excellent results: we have noticed an increase in energy, mental acuity, and general sense of well-being.