Selenium and Your Thyroid
You may want to do some research on a mineral called selenium. Selenium protects the thyroid; low levels are associated with an increased risk of thyroid disease as well as higher rate of symptoms and inflammation. It’s interesting that thyroid disease is linked to places where the soil is low in selenium!
Selenium is a nutrient that is found mostly in meats, eggs and brazil nuts. Some people can get adequate amounts of selenium from food. Our soil and food, however, is not as nutrient-dense as it once was. In addition, gut inflammation and issues such as low stomach acid or other nutrient deficiencies may impair optimal nutritional absorption.
If you’re wondering what selenium does when it comes to thyroid health, here’s the scoop. . .Selenium is a powerful antioxidant (the good stuff) that removes free radicals (the bad stuff) and prevents thyroid damage. It
is responsible for helping with the conversion of T4 thyroid hormone into T3, the active form, which is used by every cell in your body.
Have autoimmune thyroid disease? You definitely need selenium in your life to put out the fire. Selenium reduces inflammation, so it’s vital in lowering TPO antibodies that signify the thyroid is under autoimmune attack. Hence, low selenium is associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders, such as Hashomoo’s and Graves disease. Supplementation with selenium has also been shown to slow the progression of autoimmune diseases, according to research.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab those brazil nuts and get snacking! Remember, that they pack a punch when it comes to selenium. You only need about 3-5 brazil nuts to get your selenium in for the day.