I keep reading we need to add more selenium into our food plan in “The Immunity Fix” book.
Dr. James DiNicolantonio posted on his page…·
Relative risk of death from COVID-19
1.Severe VITAMIN D deficiency – 15X
1.Old age (> 60) – 9.45X
2.Cardiovascular disease – 6.75X
3.SELENIUM deficiency -5X
4.Hypertension – 4.5X
5.Type 2 diabetes – 4.43X
6.Metabolic syndrome – 3.5X
7.Morbidly obese – 3X
8.ZINC deficiency- 2X
POOR METABOLIC HEALTH + NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES = POOR COVID OUTCOMES.
SO …What is selenium?
Your body relies on selenium, an important mineral, for many of its basic functions, from reproduction to fighting infection. The amount of selenium in different foods depends on the amount of selenium in the soil where the food was grown. Rain, evaporation, pesticides, and pH levels can all affect selenium levels in soil. That makes selenium deficiency more common in certain parts of the world, though it’s relatively rare in the United States.
https://www.healthline.com/health/selenium-foods
Sources of selenium in our foods:
- Brazil Nuts
- Fish
- Pork
- Beef
- Chicken
- Cottage Cheese
- Eggs
- Brown Rice
- Sunflower Seeds
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/
The relationship between Se status and immunity is turning out to be more complex than the simplified notion of Se being in general an immunity “booster,” which highlights the critical need for determining the mechanisms by which Se affects the immune system. Ultimately, mechanistic studies will need to involve specific selenoproteins and the roles they play during inflammation and immune responses.
Many selenoproteins play critical roles in reducing oxidative stress and balancing redox in a wide variety of tissues and cell types, including those involved in innate and adaptive immune responses.
However, functions for many selenoproteins remain unknown. By identifying roles of selenoproteins and relating those roles to inflammation and immune responses, greater insight may be gained into the mechanisms by which Se affects immunity and the use of Se-supplementation may be more optimally utilized.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3723386/
