Selenium
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Selenium is a chemical element. It is a toxic nonmetal and is related to both sulfur and tellurium. It was discovered in 1817 by Dr. Jöns Jakob Berzelius who, along with Dr. John Dalton and Dr. Antoine Lavoisier is considered to be a father of modern chemistry. He named this new element selenium, which is the Greek word meaning "moon".
Although it has a number of non health related uses, in 1996, scientific research revealed that there is a direct positive correlation between selenium supplimation and cancer prevention in humans. Although this is a continuing research, the very fact that there is a positive correlation is a wonderful hope for all of us.
Selenium is a trace element necessary in the diet of human beings, that is only a very small amount is necessary for it to be effective. It as a cofactor in the reduction of antioxidant enzymes. Many medical doctors and other professional health care experts feel that present ongoing medical studies seem to indicate that selenium may play a significant role in the battle towards the prevention of and perhaps someday the cure and elimination of AIDS and HIV. Many medical doctors and other professional health care experts also feel that a certain disease, which effects the health of the human heart, is caused by a lack of selenium in the diet. Unfortunately, they also feel that the damage done to the heart by this disease cannot be reversed by an increase of selenium in the diet. Many have also indicated that a disease which seems to cause arthritis or arthritic like problems in the human body is also caused by a lack of selenium.
Although selenium deficiency is very rare in normal, healthy well nourished individuals, it can show up in people whose intestinal functions have been seriously damaged or in those who have to be fed intravenously, possibly because of being in a coma or because of surgery or because of injuries sustained in some sort of an accident.
Selenium is also known to be toxic in excessive amounts and when that does happen it can affect the hair, the finger and toe nails, can lead to extreme fatigue, almost irrational irritability, neurological problems, gastrointestinal disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, pulmonary edema and even death.
Men require a higher amount of selenium in their diets than women because of the high concentration of selenium in seminal fluid. Some medical doctors and professional health care workers feel that an adequate amount of selenium in the diet may help in the elimination of sterility and impotence in some cases.
Foods which have been found to be a good source of selenium for the diet are Brazil nuts, snapper, halibut, salmon, scallops, clams, oysters, lasagna, wheat germ, molasses, sunflower seeds, granola, ground beef, chicken, whole wheat bread, egg, milk and cheddar cheese.
