Selenium Deficiency: possible relationship to, ... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,148 members160,828 posts

Selenium Deficiency: possible relationship to, Immune system, Digestion, Crohns, Hair loss, Infertility, Weight gain, Fatigue...etc

Poppy_the_cat profile image
7 Replies

Looking for something in the cupboard yesterday I came across my opened packet of Brasil Nuts... And I thought, ah ha... SELENIUM!

Just 2 to 3 nuts per day as I recall, is the required daily amount...ingesting the food containing the selenium is always better than taking the supplement of course.

During our current sitution with The Virus, the connection between the gut biome and our healthy levels of immunity, again all being connected to our Gut, I thought I would post this, as it contains so much information for us all.

"Even for people who don't have a selenium deficiency, taking selenium supplements has been shown to have a considerable impact on the immune system, increasing the production of activated T-cells and natural killer cell activity, both of which assist in the immune response to disease, tumors, and infection.

Your thyroid has the highest concentration of selenium in your body, and this mineral plays a key role in your thyroid gland’s ability to produce thyroid hormone. Here's a look at how much selenium you need, and the warning signs that you're not getting enough.

Some of the risk factors for developing a selenium deficiency include:

* Intestinal, digestive, or absorption issues like Crohn's disease

* Having had gastric bypass surgery

* Living in an area with selenium-deficient soil

* Undergoing kidney dialysis

* Having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Symptoms

There are many SYMPTOMS that can occur when you aren't getting enough selenium.

Some of the most common ones include:

* Infertility

* Hair lossFatigue

* Weight gain

* Compromised immune system, resulting in getting sick more often

* Difficulty thinking and/or concentrating.....

Of course, it's worth noting that some of these overlap with symptoms of thyroid disease.

This is the link:

verywellhealth.com/selenium...

Reassuring to think that we can just eat 2 or 3 Brasil nuts a day to help, providing we are not nut intolerant that is.

Poppy the Cat

Written by
Poppy_the_cat profile image
Poppy_the_cat
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
7 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Poppy_the_cat

.... ingesting the food containing the selenium is always better than taking the supplement of course.

Reassuring to think that we can just eat 2 or 3 Brasil nuts a day to help, providing we are not nut intolerant that is.

Providing, of course that the nuts contain selenium and they have to have been grown in selenium rich soil to contain any. Then it depends on which area the nuts were grown in because the amount of selenium in soil varies. Eastern Amazon and Central Brazil have the highest amounts:

honey-guide.com/2012/11/19/...

The packaging needs to say "Grown in selenium rich soil" and preferably the area and possibly the amount of selenium.

Apparently Sainsburys SO organic brazil nuts contain 50mcg selenium per 30g serving of nuts

sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/pro...

and their Fairtrade ones have 75mcg selenium per 30g serving

sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/pro...

One member has said that M&S Natural Brazil Nuts say "harvested by hand in the Amazon forest and naturally high in selenium".

Poppy_the_cat profile image
Poppy_the_cat in reply to SeasideSusie

Thank-you for your extra input, much appreciated.

😊👍

Cat013 profile image
Cat013

Thank you Poppy_the_cat. I am newly diagnosed and have been trying to help myself by taking everything I should be and have bought Brazil nuts containing selenium. So Organic ones are good and Tesco do them too (fair trade organic) so seem to be fairly widely available. It’s nice to get such helpful advice 😊. The only thing I’ve not thought of yet is magnesium to help with my D3 tablets which I’ll start looking in to. Thank you x

Sarfran profile image
Sarfran

I have just found The Foodie Market Brazil nuts in Aldi, 79mcg per 30g serving. So if you don't have a Sainsbury's or M &S or, like me, shop in Aldi anyway, it's a good alternative.

I hope you are having a good weekend.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Sarfran

Sarfran

Aldi actually quote the selenium content on pack? That is amazing. Are these the organic ones, the raw ones or just labelled "Brazil nuts"? If I can have confirmation of the exact ones to buy I can add them to the list of recommended ones.

I have some from Lidl and there is no mention at all of selenim content or where grown, just says that they are packed in Germany.

Sarfran profile image
Sarfran in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi Susie,

They do have the Selenium content on the nutritional values table on the packet.

Just labelled Brazil Nuts from Aldi's range called The Foodie Market.

I hope this will help some of our fellow Hypos!

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Sarfran

Great, thank you, I'll add it to the other recommended ones :)

You may also like...

YOUR Microbiome and I mean YOURS

you connected your Hashimoto's to leaky gut and your immune system which is your flora and your...

Raising awareness of Iodine Deficiency & Thyroid-related Issues

elements counter the Iodine in our systems. “Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable...

More About Gluten and Alzheimer's

the gut to the brain so the bad bacteria can send some of these messages. When your immune system...

Thyroid UK Covid-19 Statement has been updated

Covid-19 and thyroid disease, we have now updated our statement: Can COVID-19 cause thyroid...

Blood Test for vits (and thyroid)

B-complex, selenium, Beta Glucans immune support (contains Vit A, D+C, zinc, copper, selenium,...