Symptoms of selenium deficiency and how to treat it .. And how much do you need each day?

The element selenium may be one of the minerals that many do not know because its name is out of fashion, such as iron, calcium and others, but it is a particularly important mineral because it supports the work of many systems including the endocrine system, the immune system, blood vessels and others, which means that in the event of a deficiency in this The element will disturb these functions, so it is important to know the symptoms of selenium deficiency in the body, the causes of this condition and how to deal with it, and this is what we will present to you in this article, dear readers, so keep reading.

What is selenium deficiency?

Selenium deficiency refers to a lack of selenium in your diet. This can cause many health problems. The amount of selenium in food sources is determined mainly by the soil used for cultivation, irrigation method, and pH because these factors have an effect on the selenium concentration in the soil.

A 2011 review showed that selenium deficiency may be linked to certain types of cancer, and selenium deficiency can also affect cognitive performance, but more study and research is needed to draw firm conclusions.

Symptoms of selenium deficiency

Selenium deficiency can cause a number of symptoms. The most common symptoms include:

• Infertility in men and women.
• muscle weakness
• fatigue.
• Spiritual fog.
• hair loss ;
• Weakened immune system.

Risk factors for selenium deficiency are:

• Live in areas with low selenium soils.
• Do you have dialysis.
• Presence of HIV.
• Digestive disorder such as Crohn’s disease .

Who needs selenium in particular?

It is especially important to have enough selenium in the following situations:

• You have a thyroid disorder such as Graves’ disease.
• The presence of thyroid nodules.
• Cancer incidence.
• Weakened immunity.
• Pregnancy.
• You already have a selenium deficiency.

How is selenium deficiency treated?

Initial treatment for a selenium deficiency involves trying to eat more foods rich in selenium, including:

• Brazil nuts .
• tuna.
• the rice.
• beans.
• Whole grain bread.

When selenium-rich foods are not an option, it can help to add selenium which is also in many vitamins in the treatment, however it is available as a standalone product but you should speak to your doctor first before starting any intake.

How much selenium do you need per day?

• The National Institutes of Health recommends consuming 55 micrograms of selenium for people over the age of 14.
• In pregnant or breastfeeding women, the rate rises to 70 mcg.
• Exceeding 900 micrograms per day leads to poisoning.
• A sign of excess selenium in the body is the smell of garlic in the breath with a metallic taste in the mouth.