Selenium

Antioxidant - Metabolism - Thyroid function

55mcg (equal to 1 Brazil nut or a can of sardines)

Reducing oxidative stress can protect against cognitive decline, which can lead to Alzheimer’s and mood disorders such as depression.

Selenium’s powerful antioxidant properties can help to  prevent cell damage and oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

Essential for thyroid function

Antioxidant properties throughout the body

Iodine and Selenium work well together as they are both needed for thyroid function.

It also works well with other antioxidant vitamins (like vitamin E). Best dietary source is Brazil nuts, which aren’t commonly consumed.

A study on young adults found that low or excessively high blood levels of selenium resulted in higher risk of depressive symptoms than in people with healthy levels.

Here’s a handful of relevant scientific studies on selenium.

Science moves faster than we do, but we’re updating these lists as often as we can.

• Optimal Serum Selenium Concentrations Are Associated with Lower Depressive Symptoms and Negative Mood among Young Adults. (2015)
• Lower brain and blood nutrient status in Alzheimer's disease: Results from meta-analyses. (2017)
• Effects of Brazil nut consumption on selenium status and cognitive performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled pilot trial. (2016)