How to Find the Best Selenium Supplement
Selenium (Se) is a trace mineral that can be found in foods and supplements.[1] It is available in both organic and inorganic forms and is an essential nutrient for humans and animals.[2] In the body, selenium works as an antioxidant http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=32801, protecting cells from free radical damage. It has an important role in thyroid hormone synthesis, the male reproductive system, and other bodily processes.[3, 4]
How Is Selenium Found in Our Diet?
The amount of selenium in plants is directly linked to the concentration of the element in the soil.[5] Plants absorb inorganic selenium from the earth and convert it into organic forms.[6] Environmental factors affect the amount of selenium a plant absorbs. The pH of the soil, temperature, air humidity, and ground moisture all affect selenium uptake.[7] Because of these variations, selenium concentration in plant-based foods http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33532 varies region to region. Selenium levels can change over such a small area that the vegetables in your neighbor’s garden may have more selenium than yours.[8]
Selenium content in meat can also vary, although not as drastically. The selenium content of animal products depends on the concentration of the element in the plants they eat.[1] What does this variation mean for our daily selenium requirements?
Recommended Intake
When you look at a nutrition label you’ll see the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The RDA is defined as the “average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy people.”[1] Notice the definition says “sufficient” and not “optimal.” Every person’s needs differ. A breastfeeding woman needs much more selenium than a nine-year-old boy, for example. Your optimal selenium requirements may be higher or lower than what the label says. The following chart provides a more complete perspective about daily selenium requirements.
Life Stage Selenium Requirement (in micrograms)
Birth – 6 months 15 mcg
7-12 months 20 mcg
1-3 years 20 mcg
4 – 8 years 30 mcg
9 – 13 years 40 mcg
14 – 18 years 55 mcg
19 – 50 years 55 mcg
51+ years 55 mcg
Pregnancy 60 mcg
Lactation 70 mcg
If you find yourself in need of more selenium in your diet, you can try a supplement. You can find selenium in multivitamins or by itself. Whatever supplement you try, be sure to read the label.
4 Types of Selenium Supplements
When choosing a selenium supplement, pay attention to the form of selenium it contains. Selenium is available in several forms, and not all of them offer the same health benefits http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=35989. Different forms are absorbed and metabolized differently. The most important distinction between the various selenium forms is whether it’s organic or inorganic.[9]
Inorganic forms of selenium are easily absorbed through the intestine but poorly retained. Once they reach the blood, inorganic selenium is quickly filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in urine. Suffice to say, that won’t provide the full nutritional benefits of the nutrient.[9]
Conversely, organic, protein-bound selenium is better retained, utilized, and incorporated by the human body. Organic selenium supplements are often extracted from food sources. Selenium-containing amino acids, such as selenomethionine, are introduced directly into proteins, including the proteins that make up our muscles. About 90% of the selenomethionine we take in is actually absorbed in the intestinal tract, and about half of that stays in the body.[9]
The most common types of selenium found in supplements are:
1. Selenium sulfide – A topical substance that is generally not considered a supplement. Selenium sulfide is an anti-infective agent http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=118&t=36141 that relieves itching and flaking of the scalp. It’s often used in lotions and shampoos.[10]
2. Sodium Selenite – An inorganic form of selenium usually derived from a synthetic process.[11]
3. Selenium-enriched yeast – An organic form of selenium produced from yeast fermentation.
4. Selenomethionine and Selenocysteine – Naturally occurring organic amino acids that contain selenium. Read more
The Mustard Seed: Humble Herb or Powerful Superfood?
Mustard seeds may not look like anything special but they are actually loaded with nutrients and can be exceptionally beneficial for the human body. Mustard seeds are important for a variety of reasons and it’s used all across the globe for a variety of purposes – many of which are related directly to health and wellness.
But, how often do you read about mustard seed in the headlines? Never. The mustard seed is largely overlooked and underappreciated. It seems that, because there is not an ongoing conversation about mustard seed, it has become a “humble herb.” However, it has much of which to be proud. Let’s first take a look at how the mustard seed benefits thebody, its nutritional value, the various types of mustard, and its role as it pertains to nutrition.
Four Ways the Mustard Seed Benefits the Body
Mustard seeds offer many health benefits. Here are four of the most significant.
1. Phytonutrients
Mustard seeds are rich in phytonutrients, which are bioactive food components that support various physiological functions. They enhance the immune system and have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-aging, neuroprotective, and antioxidant http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=32801 properties.[1]
2. Myrosinase
The Myrosinase enzyme, which is found in mustard seeds[2] is the only enzyme that can break down glucosinolates into absorbable nutrients.[3]
3. Alpha-Linolenic Acid
Mustard seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33213, which helps support normal cardiovascular health.[4] ALA is a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid that has been tested as a possible measure for lowering triglycerides, lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and inhibiting clotting.[5]
4. Asthma Prevention
In animal studies, white mustard seeds have shown to be an effective asthma therapy. In a 2014 study, researchers concluded that white mustard seed cataplasm is a novel choice for anti-asthma therapy, and the overall assessment will soon be performed at the molecular level.[6]
Although the therapeutic benefits are nothing to scoff at, the true benefit of the mustard seed is its nutritional value.
Nutritional Value of the Mustard Seed
Mustard seeds are among the most nutritious foods on the planet. They contain minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33111, phosphorus, potassium, sodium http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=34944, and zinc. Mustard seeds are an abundant source of vitamins as well: Vitamin C http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=35740, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B12, and more.[7]
Mustard plants also accumulate selenium, which is an important nutrient in its own right.[8] In fact, the human body cannot function properly without enough selenium. As a nutrient, selenium enhances the body’s own natural capabilities.
Quick History of the Mustard Seed
Mustard seeds are found all across the world and their benefits have been known for thousands of years. The earliest recorded mention of the mustard seed took place in India in the 5th century BC. It’s found in a story of Gautama Buddha. The story tells of a grieving mother sent on a quest to collect mustard seeds. It’s a parable about loss and acceptance, intended to comfort those who lost a loved one.
Mustard seeds are mentioned in Jewish and Christian religious texts dating back two thousand years. The use of the mustard seed in such contexts demonstrates just how significant the herb has been in daily life, as each of these examples used the seed as a familiar object that was easily relatable to the general public.
Mustard seeds are still in use today. Even though we usually don’t think of the seeds themselves, we consume mustard as a condiment. Mustard remains one of the most popular condiments in the United States, with more than twelve ounces of mustard consumed annually by every American.
What Is Mustard Made Of?
Mustard can have many, varied ingredients, depending on the type of mustard. The primary ingredient, however, is always the same: mustard seeds.
Most prepared mustard is some combination of powdered mustard seed, vinegar, and water. Others contain additional ingredients like oil, honey, sweeteners, and even beer orwine.
Yellow mustard is the most commonly used mustard in the United States. It’s mild and sometimes colored with turmeric http://bit.ly/Turmericroot. Dijon mustard gets some of its taste from vinegar and wine. Honey mustard is simply a combination of regular mustard and honey.
Even though most people recognize just a few types of mustard, there are literally thousands of brands and variations. Every year, mustard aficionados gather in Middleton, Wisconsin for the National Mustard Day and the opportunity to sample or buy up to 450 different types of mustard.
The complementary ingredients in mustard have a significant impact on a mustard’s nutritional value.
Is Mustard Healthy?
Because of additional ingredients, certain types of mustard are healthier than others. For example, a basic mustard made from organic seeds, distilled water, and organic apple cider vinegar has far more nutritional value than a mustard loaded with artificial sweeteners http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=31737 or alcohol http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=33887.
In general, mustard is a low-calorie food, but that doesn’t automatically make it healthy. Artificial ingredients may not increase the calorie count but they can be unhealthy in other ways. It is important to focus on nutrition instead of counting calories. There is more to health than surface-level numbers. Quality nutrition is a key pillar of health and wellness, not body weight or calorie count. Read more
Shocking report says water bills to triple across USA
With wages stagnant or declining, gasoline and electricity prices on the rise and food prices steadily increasing, the last thing American families need is another increase in a basic necessity. Yet, a new report says that's exactly what you're going to get: Water bills that will likely double or triple over the next few years, thanks to the nation's crumbling water system infrastructure.
A new study and report by the American Water Works Association http://www.awwa.org/files/GovtPublicAffairs/GADocuments/BuriedNoLongerCompleteFinal.pdf (AWWA) entitled, Buried No Longer: Confronting America's Water Infrastructure Challenge, improving and expanding the nation's underground water systems will cost upwards of $1 trillionhttp://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/washington-secrets/2012/02/more-bad-news-us-water-bills-triple/317086 over the next 25 years. And, as is always the case, water system users are going to get soaked with the bill.
What does that mean in real dollars and cents? Right now the average family household pays about $400 a year. The fixes that are needed over the next quarter century mean that bills could rise anywhere from $300-$550 a year, meaning water bills could skyrocket to $900 a year or more.
Crumbling infrastructure
Experts will tell you that investing now, rather than later, is a good idea and cheaper in the long run. But that's hard to swallow for wage earners whose incomes have been stuck in neutral http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/16/news/economy/middle_class/index.htm or worse, declining for the past decade. Add to that a raft of new tax hikes and cuts in benefits http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/jack-lew-defends-tax-increases-in-2013-budget-insists-congress-extend-payroll-tax-cut/, and hard-hit Americans are in no mood to fork out even more money in new fees and rate increases.
But that doesn't change the fact that, without improvements, the nation's supply and delivery of fresh drinking water http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=34827 is in peril. In fact, the AWWA believes spending to fix the pipes and other infrastructure is likely to rise from $13 billion a year today to $30 billion in 2040.
"Delaying the investment can result in degrading water service, increasing water service disruptions, and increasing expenditures for emergency repairs. Ultimately we will have to face the need to "catch up" with past deferred investments, and the more we delay the harder the job will be when the day of reckoning comes," said the report.
Not all of the expense of this upgrade will come from higher water bills http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=32602, though much of it will. Some communities, the report said, will be double-tapped, so to speak.
"Other communities will need to collect significant "impact" or development fees to meet the needs of a growing population. Numerous communities will need to invest for replacement and raise funds to accommodate growth at the same time. Investments that may be required to meet new standards for drinking water quality will add even more to the bill," it said.
Higher prices for everything
Is this information new? Why, all of a sudden, is water infrastructure such a big concern? Well, nothing about this is new. In fact, the AWWA warned about the nation's crumbling water infrastructure, and the need to replace, in a report 10 years ago.
"Like many of the roads, bridges, and other public assets on which the country relies, most of our buried drinking water infrastructure was built 50 or more years ago, in the post-World War II era of rapid demographic change and economic growth. In some older urban areas, many water mains have been in the ground for a century or longer," the report said.
"Given its age, it comes as no surprise that a large proportion of US water infrastructure is approaching, or has already reached, the end of its useful life."
As unemployment remains stubbornly high at about 9 percent, as gasoline prices rise to nearly $3.75 a gallon on averagehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/business/markets/oil-rises-to-near-107-in-europe-on-improved-us-confidence-after-mixed-demand-signs/2012/02/29/gIQAz9H1hR_story.html nationwide, and as wages continue to remain stagnant or decline, you and your family are about to take on another cost increase: higher water bills.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.awwa.org/files/GovtPublicAffairs/GADocuments/BuriedNoLongerCompleteFinal.pdf
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/washington-secrets/2012/02/more-bad-news-us-water-bills-triple/317086
http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/16/news/economy/middle_class/index.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/jack-lew-defends-tax-increases-in-2013-budget-insists-congress-extend-payroll-tax-cut/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/markets/oil-rises-to-near-107-in-europe-on-improved-us-confidence-after-mixed-demand-signs/2012/02/29/gIQAz9H1hR_story.html
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