{"id":700268,"date":"2025-11-16T19:25:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T16:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=700268"},"modified":"2025-11-16T19:25:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T16:25:04","slug":"what-is-selenium-and-how-can-you-tell-if-youre-deficient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=700268","title":{"rendered":"What Is Selenium And How Can You Tell If You\u2019re Deficient?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wellness<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What Is Selenium And How Can You Tell If You\u2019re Deficient?<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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By <\/span>Ranyechi Udemezue<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

November 16, 2025<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Maskot<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n
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A powerful antioxidant present in many foods, selenium plays a vital role in thyroid function, supporting immune health and reducing inflammation. The NHS recommends that women over 19 consume 60\u03bcg a day and men 75\u03bcg a day. Studies have shown that if you have a balanced carnivorous diet and enjoy eating nuts and fish, you likely have an optimal level of selenium.<\/p>\n

Here, nutritional therapists Farzanah Nasser and Eve Kalinik break down the key facts about selenium, the foods that can boost your intake, and how to tell if you\u2019re deficient.<\/p>\n

What is selenium?<\/h2>\n

\u201cSelenium is an essential mineral that helps to support your metabolism, immune system, and cardiovascular health,\u201d says Nasser. \u201cAlthough needed in small amounts, it\u2019s essential for your overall well-being. It can also help to alleviate symptoms of Hashimoto thyroiditis\u2014also known as Hashimoto\u2019s disease\u2014which is an autoimmune condition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalinik agrees, sharing that selenium \u201chelps to buffer the effects of free radical damage in the body, whilst also boosting your ability to fight infections by increasing your white blood cell count\u201d.<\/p>\n

Selenium is also critical for thyroid hormone production. \u201cIt helps convert T4, the inactive hormone, into T3, which is the active hormone,\u201d Nasser explains. Additionally, selenium protects the thyroid gland from oxidative stress and damage, plus it \u201chas been positively linked with reducing thyroid antibodies,\u201d according to Kalinik.<\/p>\n

How can you tell if you\u2019re deficient?<\/h2>\n

Low selenium levels can lead to \u201cweakened immunity, cognitive decline, muscle weakness, infertility, and thyroid dysfunction\u2014and in severe cases it can also contribute to an increased risk of chronic diseases and heart disease,\u201d says Nasser. \u201cConsuming just the right amount is incredibly important, and supports smaller yet vital elements of the body such as glutathione peroxidase enzymes, which protect your cells.\u201d<\/p>\n

A selenium deficiency can also lead to Kashin-Beck disease, which is a bone and joint disorder\u2014primarily seen in parts of East Asia. Symptoms include cartilage damage and stunted growth, leading to severe mobility issues, Nasser explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cSelenium also helps your body to produce selenoproteins, which in turn aid healthy hair and nail maintenance,\u201d Kalinik adds. \u201cIf facing a deficiency diagnosis, it\u2019s important to make sure we ingest enough through the diet.\u201d On the flip side, consuming too much selenium can lead to \u201csymptoms of nausea, facial flushing, and dizziness\u201d.<\/p>\n

What are the best sources of selenium?<\/h2>\n
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  1. Brazil nuts<\/li>\n
  2. Wild-caught salmon, sardines, and tuna<\/li>\n
  3. Eggs<\/li>\n
  4. Sunflower seeds<\/li>\n
  5. Mushrooms<\/li>\n
  6. Grass-fed meats (beef, chicken, turkey)<\/li>\n
  7. Shellfish (shrimp, scallops, oysters)<\/li>\n
  8. Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat, oats)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Should we be taking selenium supplements?<\/h2>\n

    \u201cFor most people, it\u2019s best to get selenium from food sources rather than supplements,\u201d says Nasser. \u201cIf you suspect that you may have a deficiency, it\u2019s always best to seek the advice of a medical professional,\u201d Kalinik adds. A doctor will be able to safely guide you through a supplementation plan and monitor your levels over time\u2014especially as higher dosages can lead to negative effects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Always consult your doctor before creating a supplement plan.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Have a beauty or wellness trend you’re curious about? We want to know! Send<\/em>\u00a0Vogue’s senior beauty & wellness editor an email at\u00a0beauty@vogue.com.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

    Source URL: http:\/\/vogue.com\/article\/what-is-selenium<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Wellness What Is Selenium And How Can You Tell If You\u2019re Deficient? By Ranyechi Udemezue November 16, 2025 Maskot A powerful antioxidant present in many foods, selenium plays a vital role in thyroid function, supporting immune health and reducing inflammation. The NHS recommends that women over 19 consume 60\u03bcg a day and men 75\u03bcg a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":700269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[50],"class_list":["post-700268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-vogue-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/700268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=700268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/700268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/700269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=700268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=700268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=700268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}