Selenium for your metabolism and thyroid gland
The thyroid gland stimulates cellular oxygen uptake, which has a direct impact on your metabolism. Many people have thyroid disorders without being aware of it, and there are many people who receive medical treatment for a diagnosed thyroid problem and still don’t feel right.
The trace element selenium activates the thyroid hormones
The thyroid gland produces two different thyroid hormones. T3 (with three iodine atoms) is the active hormone, while T4 (with four iodine atoms) is the passive hormone. In order to activate the metabolism in the different tissues of the body, a selenium-containing compound removes a single iodine atom from T4, thereby converting it from inactive T4 to active T3. Other selenium compounds function as important antioxidants that protect the thyroid gland against inflammation caused by oxidative stress from mercury, infections, medicine, tobacco smoke, and other sources of free radicals.
Thyroid diseases may be caused by a number of things, and inflammation seems to play a key role in the most common thyroid disorders.
Selenium supplements may alleviate thyroid disorders
Supplementing with 200 micrograms of selenium daily has been shown to have a positive effect on the type of inflammation that is seen with Hashimoto’s disease and causes slow metabolism. It also helps against Graves’ disease that causes an overactive thyroid gland.
Selenium supplements are also able to lower levels of so-called anti-TPO antibodies in pregnant women. These antibodies are precursors of Hashimoto’s disease. Traditionally, there has been focus on iodine in relation to thyroid function, but selenium appears to have a vital role in several areas.
How do I get enough selenium?
European soil has a relatively low selenium content, and some of the best selenium sources are fish, shellfish, organ meat, and Brazil nuts. Europeans generally get too little selenium. Their selenium intake has decreased within the past decades – especially as a result of poor eating habits and nutrient depletion of the soil.
Many people would undoubtedly benefit from taking a selenium supplement. It is best to take organic selenium yeast that contains many different selenium species and provides the same natural variety as a diet with a variety of different selenium sources.
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland:Fatigue and poor concentration, cold sensitivity, slow heart rate, weight increase, swollen throat/head, saggy and dry skin, hair loss, frayed nails, constipation, a tendency to feel depressed, goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) |
Symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland:Fatigue and poor concentration, hot and sweaty feeling, rapid heart rate, heart palpitations, weight loss (in spite of extreme hunger), frequent loose stools, nervousness, goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) and protruding eyeballs (Graves’ disease) |
Ask your doctor to measure your metabolism if you suspect you have an over- or underactive thyroid gland