Selenium
Selenium is a mineral that protects our body against damage by acting as an anti-oxidant. Selenium helps to regulate blood pressure and keep our immune system healthy.
How much selenium do we need?
|
|
Age
(years)
|
Selenium
(µg/day)
|
|
Infants
|
7-12 months
|
15
|
|
Children
|
1-3
|
25
|
|
|
4-8
|
30
|
|
Boys
|
9-13
14-18
|
50
70
|
|
Girls
|
9-13
14-18
|
50
60
|
|
Men
|
19-70+
|
70
|
|
Women
|
19-70+
|
60
|
|
Pregnant women
|
14-50
|
65
|
|
Breastfeeding women
|
14-50
|
75
|
*Recommended Daily Intake
Which foods contain selenium?
Selenium is found in cereals, meat, fish, eggs and nuts (particularly Brazil nuts).
Selenium content of foods
|
Foods rich in selenium
|
Selenium (µg)
|
|
10 almonds
|
0.2
|
|
1 brazil nut
|
48
|
|
1 poached egg
|
8
|
|
1/2 baked Hoki fillet
|
84
|
|
100g tuna (in water)
|
67
|
|
1 grilled fillet steak
|
21
|
|
½ roasted turkey breast
|
27
|
|
1 cup natural muesli
|
33
|
|
1 cup cooked pasta
|
26
|
How much do we need to eat?
A diet rich in the foods above should meet the selenium needs of most people. You can easily get all the selenium you need from just one Brazil nut, but it is best not to eat more 2 or 3 per day on a regular basis to avoid selenium toxicity.
Selenium toxicity
As with other trace elements, more is not necessarily better. Too much selenium can be harmful to your body, so you should take selenium supplements only when advised by your doctor.