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.
This is a very beneficial interaction that removes mercury from the body before it can lodge in fatty tissue and cause damage.
It is important to maintain your levels of selenium to effectively neutralize mercury and produce the antioxidant enzymes that benefit you. You need to consume less mercury and more selenium in order for this to happen. If you have significant mercury consumption (dental amalgams, vaccines, processed food consumption) then you will need increased selenium consumption up to 1000 mcg/daily.
Other key roles of selenium
Selenium improves the antioxidant capabilities throughout your body while increasing blood flow, modulating immune function, and lowering inflammation. It is an important trace mineral for anyone who is experiencing chronic inflammation or autoimmune disorders. Selenium attaches antioxidants like glutathione to damaged areas of DNA. This reduces and repairs the DNA, which is an important process to reducing the risk of cancer and improving the aging process.
Appropriate selenium consumption
The average adult should typically consume between 200-400 micrograms of selenium daily. Too much selenium is toxic. However, the average American consumes just 60 mcg daily. This creates a long-term deficiency that leads to decreased immunity and increased risk of disease.
The most common disorders associated with selenium deficiencies include liver and pancreatic disorders, high cholesterol, stunted growth, fatigue, and cancer.
Fish consumption and selenium
Fish consumption has been a source of controversy due to the elevated mercury levels from industrial pollution. However, fish is also a great source of selenium. The key is to use fish sources that are minimally processed and contain significantly more selenium than mercury. Look for flounder, tuna, and wild pacific salmon (Coho, Sockeye, and Chinook). Avoid shark, tarpon, and pilot whale.
Best food sources of selenium
Brazil Nuts are by far the best source of selenium. Each Brazil nut contains between 50-75 mcg of selenium. Four to six Brazil nuts will supply most of the selenium you will need in the course of a day.
Other good sources include pasture-raised eggs, shellfish, mushrooms, meat, fish, seeds, and organ meats.
Supplemental forms of selenium
The most bioavailable form of selenium is in an amino acid form called selenomethionine, which is found naturally in yeast. Many other forms of selenium only have half the absorption levels of L-selenomethionine.
All amino acids occur in two different three-dimensional forms: an “L” form and a “D” form, which are essentially mirror images of each other. The human body can only metabolize the L-amino acid form. When you search for a supplement, look for L-selenomethionine.
One study showed that supplementation with 200 mcg of L-selenomethionine significantly reduced thyroid peroxidase antibodies and improved overall thyroid function in individuals suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
L-selenomethionine supplementation has also been shown to reduce mercury and cadmium content in the body and help to prevent various forms of cancer formation.
10 tips to reduce mercury naturally
- Avoid vaccines: Avoid vaccines and choose natural means to boost immunity.
- 2. Say no to dental amalgams: Do not get dental amalgams put in and look to remove existing ones by finding an IAOMT mercury-free dentist.
- Consume Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts are the greatest source of selenium. A handful (depending on soil quality) contains anywhere from 200 – 550 mcg. Eat 5-6 Brazil nuts daily.
- Eat whole foods: Minimize processed food consumption and eat whole foods by following an anti-inflammatory nutrition plan.
- Choose fish wisely: Only eat wild-caught (never farmed) fish with very high selenium: mercury ratios.
- Use cilantro, parsley, and dandelion: Use cilantro (a heavy metal chelating agent) in your fish and other foods. Parsley and dandelion are also very supportive of the liver and kidneys and help the body to flush out wastes such as mercury.
- SuperGreens & Chlorella: Use a high-quality super greens powder with cracked-wall chlorella which is a powerful heavy metal chelating agent.
- Use an infrared sauna: One of the best ways to remove mercury and other heavy metals is through perspiring in an infrared sauna which has the ability to help move heavy metals from tissue cells into circulation and out through the sweat glands.
- Drink hydrating fluids: Drink plenty of clean, filtered water daily. Adding lemon/lime, various essential oils, or apple cider vinegar to your water enhances the detoxifying effects.
- Use a detoxification supplement program: Following a specific supplement program on a periodic basis can help sweep out the toxins in your system. It promotes a gentle and comfortable detoxification process that will not interfere with your daily life.
You should experience better energy, mental clarity, less pain, and better sleep. If you have high levels of mercury or other heavy metals, impaired liver function, cancer, or an autoimmune disorder, consider the above steps and a full detoxification routine.