The occurrence of selenium in the soil

Table of contents:

1. the occurrence of selenium

Two. What is selenium?

3. development of a selenium deficiency

4. selenium as a food supplement

5. conclusion

1. the presence of selenium

Selenium is an essential trace element. The occurrence of selenium in plant foods is always dependent on the nutrient composition of the soil. The soils in Europe are rather poor in selenium. Therefore, animal foods are the better sources of selenium in Europe. Selenium is of particular importance as it enhances immune defence, protects the human organism from free radicals and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy metabolism.

2. what is selenium?

Selenium is an essential trace element. It is found in all body cells of the human organism and is essential for life. Selenium performs a variety of tasks in the human body, such as protecting the cells from oxidative damage. These include environmental and radiation exposure. Selenium is essential for the formation of sperm and thus very important for male fertility. The mineral not only regulates the thyroid hormone balance, but also contributes to the optimal functioning of the thyroid gland. The mineral is known for its preventive effect against many types of cancer. Selenium reduces the risk of prostate, lung and colon cancer. The trace element supports the human immune system and reduces inflammatory processes.

3. development of a selenium deficiency

If too little selenium is supplied to the human organism in the long term, a lack of selenium can occur. As a result, the trace element is no longer sufficiently available to the body. A selenium deficiency is often caused by an insufficient or one-sided eating habit. Those who do not eat a healthy, balanced and varied diet cannot provide their body with the important nutrients. In addition, chronic digestive disorders (such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) can impair the supply of selenium. Likewise, diseases such as cystic fibrosis or renal insufficiency can lead to the ingested selenium not being properly utilised. Only minimal amounts of selenium then enter the body. The elderly, alcoholics and people suffering from bulimia are particularly at risk. Vegetarians and vegans are on average worse supplied with selenium than people who use animal products.

4 Selenium as a dietary supplement

Selenium should normally be absorbed by the body daily.
Best naturally through a healthy and balanced diet. However, many people find it very difficult to cover their complete requirements for trace elements, minerals and vitamins. Then selenium should be taken in addition to this in order to avoid a lack of iodine.

Selenium is available in the form of dietary supplements in stores. It is offered in the form of selenium capsules and selenium tablets. Both forms are easy to handle and quickly enter the circulation. However, selenium tablets are sold in pharmacies, which in many cases have been manufactured with artificial additives or abroad. Selenium capsules often contain only the active ingredient in a vegetable cellulose shell and can therefore be produced without fillers. Selenium capsules or selenium tablets should be taken with sufficient liquid (for example water or juice). It does not matter whether they are taken before or after a meal. However, if you have a sensitive stomach and cannot take selenium tablets or selenium capsules on an empty stomach, you should eat something first and then take the food supplements.

In general, you should always make sure that the product was produced in Germany in order to guarantee a consistently high quality of the preparation. If you buy a preparation from Germany, you can be sure that the product was also produced safely and is of high quality.

5. conclusion: the presence of selenium

Selenium is essential for the human organism. The occurrence of selenium in plant foods is always dependent on the nutrient composition of the soil. The soils in Europe are rather poor in selenium. Therefore, animal foods are the better sources of selenium in Europe. Those who would like to supplement selenium can choose between selenium capsules and selenium tablets. Both forms are easy to handle and quickly enter the human circulation.

Further sources:

• The role of selenium in thyroid gland pathophysiology
• Proteins in microbial synthesis of selenium nanoparticles
• [Collecting review: use of selenium in therapy and prevention of muscular diseases in animals]
• [The influence of Spirulina and Selenium-Spirulina on some indexes of rat's immune status]
• Selenium biomineralization for biotechnological applications
• Pharmaconutrition with intravenous selenium in intensive care: Back to basics?
• [Exposure to selenium in photocopying workers]
• Selenium