How Selenium Helps Rid Your Body of Mercury

Selenium is gaining acknowledgment from the scientific community that it is a key compound to help your body detoxify environmental pollutants. Our modern world is replete with harmful toxins of many types. One of the most harmful and sometimes lethal toxins is mercury. Mercury tends to accumulate in fatty tissues, the brain, kidneys, and liver. Science is now showing that selenium is a powerful mercury detoxifying agent.

Many of us have high levels of mercury in our bodies. Mercury crowds out other major trace minerals necessary for optimal health. If you are deficient in necessary trace minerals, mercury enters and damages cells by shutting down their antioxidant enzyme systems and energy production.

Major sources of mercury

Mercury is found in industrial pollution, fish, vaccines, processed foods, and dental amalgam fillings. According to a large study published in the Journal of Environmental Health in 2009, mercury cell chlor alkali chemicals are used to manufacture color additives such as FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow 6, and high fructose corn syrup.

Selenium is a trace mineral that integrates with proteins to generate selenoprotein enzymes, which work as antioxidants to destroy free radicals and boost thyroid function and the immune system. Mercury binds with selenium and decreases selenoprotein production. This deficiency hampers immune & thyroid function.

Selenium binds toxic substances

Selenium attracts mercury with a strong binding affinity for it. This attraction enables selenium to mix and neutralize its characteristics. The resulting Hg-Se compound is not absorbed by the body. Your body flushes it out.