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NutriPlus with Organic Selenium

In The News


Part 2 - Introduction to Organic Selenium : The Nutrient of the New Millennium
(The Sun / HealthyLiving / Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001)

What are the benefits of Selenium consumption?

Selenium has been touted the "Nutrient Of The New Millennium" because clinical studies have shown it to be beneficial in many aspects of health. While research continues further into establishing the entirety of the advantages of Selenium consumption, it has already been determined that it may be effective in the following areas:

Lowering heart disease
Selenium prevents blood platelets from sticking together, thus reducing the chances of heart attacks or strokes occurring.

Relieving rheumatoid arthritis
Selenium helps fight the free radicals that cause the inflammation of joints and degrade cartilage and collagen.

Cleanses the body
The selenoprotein Guthathione Peroxidase, in a process called chelation, binds with toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead and flushes them out of the body through the urine.

Boosts the immune system
Selenium plays a key role in the functioning of the immune system as it increases the number of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors on the surface of the T-cell. The T-cell kills invading pathogens and IL-2 is a hormone like substance that stimulates T-cells to proliferate and function. Selenium could also be a powerful weapon in the fight against AIDS. It has been shown that the HIV virus causes a depletion of Selenium in the body and that this depletion leads the virus to replicate at a high rate causing full-blown AIDS.

Protects against cataract formation
Selenium acts against free radicals, which are seen to be the root cause of cataracts forming.

Prevention of cancer
Whilst research in this field continues, there is a positive correlation between the two as the people living in countries with the highest level of Selenium concentration in their soil show the lowest incidence of cancer.

Improved fertility
Selenium is essential for male fertility, as it is required for testosterone biosynthesis and for the normal development of spermatozoa. Studies have revealed two sperm specific selenoproteins. One is Gluthathione Peroxidase which is specific to the sperm nuclei and the other is found in the mid-section where it is believed to have an enzymatic and structural function. Immobility in sperm is frequently a result of 'snaps' in the mid-piece region.

Prevention of brain function loss
Selenium plays an important role in the manufacture of a brain chemical known as a neurotransmitter, and a low level of Selenium is linked with an increased risk of dementia and senility. in studies, loss of brain function was shown to be two-fold faster in those above 65 and suffering from a Selenium deficiency.


Why add Selenium to eggs?

As eggs are a regularly consumed item in our diets, the would be an ideal food source of Selenium for our bodies. Although Selenium is not readily absorbed into eggs, Alltech Biotechnology of the United States has developed a special feed which can increase the level of Selenium in broilers and layers, and consequently the eggs. This feed has the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration body (FDA). The recommended daily amount (RDA) of Selenium intake for our diets in estimated to be 70ug by nutritionists. Thus, consumption of two NutriPlus Enriched with Organic Selenium eggs a day, with 22ug of Selenium per egg, will be sufficient to contribute a major portion of our daily dietary requirement.

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Look out for Part Three next week on "Evidence Selenium Is Vital For Good Health" based on data compiled from Dr Peter Surai, Professor of Science, Scotland.