The immune system of the elderly being weakened due to age, they often need nutritional supplements to increase their defenses. Selenium is one of the most essential to prevent diseases.
The many studies that have been conducted in recent years have identified the causes of aging. This is the decline of a number of functions including immune. This phenomenon is called "immunosenescence". Research has established links between mortality among seniors and this deterioration of the immune system. It appears that the increase in infections, even mild ones, contributes to increasing this mortality rate.
With age, vaccines become less and less effective. A study that focused on the vaccine against the influenza virus demonstrated this in particular. For the influenza virus also, the immune response seems relatively slow and impaired. This is why it happens that seniors who have received an influenza vaccine are still affected by the disease.
To be able to fight effectively against the degeneration of the immune system and benefit from increased protection against external aggressions, the elderly are invited to increase their selenium intake. This trace element has countless benefits to the body.
Discovered by chemists Jöns Jacob Berzélius and Johan Gottlieb Gahn , selenium is essential in reducing the pathogenicity of a number of viruses. Thanks to its antioxidants, it acts directly on the viral genome which allows it to reduce the virulence of viruses.
In the body, its actions combined with those of vitamin E prevent oxidation caused by free radicals. We know that these are the cause of premature aging while also promoting the development of cataracts, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
The trace element has positive impacts on the central nervous system. It treats neuronal lesions causing Alzheimer's disease in particular by reducing oxidative stress. Detoxifying, it gets rid of heavy metals accumulated in our body such as lead, mercury, arsenic and many more.
The daily intake of selenium is 55 micrograms for adults. On its own, the Brazil nut is able to cover this need. By consuming a nut a day, you benefit not only from all the benefits of this trace element but also from those of the vitamin E present in quantity in the fruit of the Brazil walnut (Bertholletia excelsa ).
Other foods to prioritize for their high selenium content include oysters, tuna, chicken or turkey offal, clams, herring, cheeses, raisins, garlic, mushrooms and the red pepper. Egg yolks and cereals also contain it.
For people who have difficulty changing their eating habits, food supplements based on this trace element are available in pharmacies. However, pay attention to the contraindications. In high doses, it can become toxic. A maximum dose limited to 400 μg per day must be respected. Ask your pharmacist for advice on the dose to take.
