| Hippocrates said, "Let food be your medicine and | | | | prevent all sorts of degenerative diseases including |
| medicine be your food." He was right. Although an | | | | cancer, inflammatory disorders, thyroid dysfunction, |
| optimum diet includes plenty of fresh fruits and | | | | cardiovascular disease, aging, neurological problems, |
| vegetables, you may not always get enough of the | | | | infertility and infections. |
| vitamins and antioxidants that you need every single | | | | There has been a decline in blood levels of selenium in |
| day. Unfortunately, most of the fruits and vegetables | | | | European countries which would help explain the |
| that you buy at the grocery store reach your table | | | | escalating prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular |
| several weeks or even months after harvest. This | | | | disease throughout the Western world. Various |
| time lag between harvest and consumption reduce the | | | | bacteria in the natural environment and in our bodies |
| amounts of essential nutrients, as do processing and | | | | require selenium to survive. Therefore, when certain |
| cooking. | | | | bacteria invade or pollute the environment, they will |
| In particular, the selenium content of foods is easily lost | | | | consume the selenium available to humans making us |
| during processing, storing, and cooking. As a result, | | | | deficient in this very important, trace mineral, which is |
| many of us are deficient in vitamins and antioxidants | | | | essential for proper functioning of the thyroid. |
| which can affect your thyroid. Thyroid imbalance itself | | | | Selenium is a crucial component of the enzyme in the |
| can make you become deficient in antioxidants. In fact, | | | | body that converts T4 to T3 in the body. Without it, T3 |
| it cana promote excessive production of free radicals | | | | can not be produced in the right amounts and this will |
| in the body, overwhelming the cells' ability to neutralize | | | | make your body hypothyroid even though blood levels |
| them. Research has shown when the thyroid is | | | | are normal. Adequate intake of selenium is essential |
| overactive, the consumption of oxygen is higher, | | | | for thyroid hormone to regulate the function of various |
| leading to an accumulation of free radicals that are | | | | organs, and will actually help slow down the rate of |
| toxic to cells. Antioxidant supplements such as | | | | aging. A Selenium deficiency causes damages to the |
| Vitamins C and E and mixed carotenoids help cells | | | | muscles and reduces the performance of them mainly |
| clear out this damage and may even prevent cell | | | | because the damaging effects of toxins, chemicals |
| damage in many parts of the body, including the | | | | and pollutants on muscle tissue are no longer blocked. |
| muscles. | | | | An important note: when taking selenium supplements, |
| If are being treated for an overactive thyroid due to | | | | do not over do it! Excessive amounts may cause |
| Grave's disease, supplementing with Vitamins C and E, | | | | undesirable effects, including fatigue, abdominal pain, |
| beta-carotene, and selenium will make antithyroid | | | | diarrhea, nerve damage and even infertility. too much |
| medications work faster and will help your thyroid | | | | selenium can also damage your thyroid. A dose of 50 |
| levels become normal quicker. The thyroid gland | | | | to 100 mcg. of selenium taken daily is more than |
| requires selenium to manufacture adequate amounts | | | | enough to provide sufficient antioxidant activity. |
| of thyroid hormone. Selenium has been shown to | | | | |