Selenium And Your Eye Health

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You can improve your vision health in a variety of ways. You can take nutritional supplements that include all of the important eye friendly nutrients for better vision. You can also perform eye relaxation techniques that relieve the visual system of stress and tension; another factor associated with vision improvement. The pursuit of an eye exercise program that consists of eye strengthening eye exercises, when performed diligently, and on a regular basis, can increase vision health and improve your eyesight naturally. Eating foods with eye friendly nutrients is also another important component of a natural vision improvement program. Additionally, there are also essential minerals that your eyes need in order to function more efficiently. Some minerals include Zinc, Copper and magnesium to name a few. Another essential mineral that your eyes also need to stay healthy and strong is Selenium. Therefore, here are some of the eye health benefits of selenium for better vision including the essential role it plays in controlling various functions in the body:

Selenium is a trace mineral that is found in various concentrations in the soil and the water. Its health benefits include a variety of purposes from the prevention of heart disease, various forms of cancer, to the promotion of a stronger immune system. This trace mineral also supports the health of the Thyroid.

Eye Health Benefits: A 2012 scientific research study showed that Selenium may protect the eye lens and prevent the age related vision disease cataracts. This is due to the fact that Selenium is a component of an enzyme found in the mother of all antioxidants; L-Glautathione. This is an essential antioxidant critical in maintaining healthy eyesight. Research suggests that lower levels of this essential antioxidant contributed to an increased risk for cataract formation.

When Zinc is combined with Selenium a benefit may be achieved in terms of a reduction in the risks for the development of Glaucoma. This is a serious eye condition characterized by an unhealthy increase in eye pressure. It results in damage to the optic nerve and if it is untreated it can lead to blindness.

Selenium provides general health support in terms of various health functions in the human body. Some of these include protection against the damaging effects of oxidative stress in the body that often leads to the breakdown of healthy cells in the body. Therefore, it is not just a trace mineral but it is also a powerful antioxidant. It also assists in the production of hormones in the human body due to the fact that a deficiency in this trace mineral leads to infertility.

Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: Scientific research studies dating back to the year 1937 show a link between adequate levels of Selenium and heart health. These studies have demonstrated that people who have suffered heart attacks had inadequate levels of Selenium in their systems. Selenium should not be considered in isolation as a single individual nutrient due to the fact that no individual nutrient in our system works alone. For this reason, Selenium works well in reducing cholesterol levels when it is combined with nutrients like Vitamin E and Beta carotene.

Cancer Prevention: Scientific research studies show that Selenium boosts the body’s ability to fight cancer cells. This is due to the fact that it boosts the body’s immune system. Scientific studies suggests that the immune system boosting properties of this trace mineral and antioxidant reduces the risk as well as the severity of various forms of cancer including liver, prostate and lung cancer.

Food sources of Selenium include Brazil Nuts, fish, tuna and whole wheat bread to name a few. The daily recommended allowance for Selenium is the same for men and women. According to the Linus Pauling Institute we need 55 micrograms of Selenium daily. The dosage requirement for pregnant women however is higher at about 70 micrograms.



Source by Joel Travers King

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