Selenium is Optional
We will be removing selenium from the protocol for the following reasons…
It will remain optional, not on the avoid list.
Deficiency is very rare, so it’s not often useful.
We included it because the iodine doctors, (Abraham, Brownstein and Flechas) recommended it, but even they considered it optional, and we now put it into the same category. Selenium is no longer on protocol, but you can take it if you want it. They made quite a few mistakes: recommending sodium, ignoring copper, zinc, and B1, B12, B5, B7, and potassium.
If you have Hashimoto’s or Mercury toxicity, you might need more selenium. Again, it’s now optional.
Selenium is needed for making certain proteins in the body, the popular glutathione, but if you are eating protein, you are not likely going to be selenium deficient, nor glutathione deficient. Vegans may also consider adding it to their stack.
But benefits of selenium have not been proved up in the last 20 years or so.
Known harms of selenium have been categorized by the NIH at low levels, including causing peripheral neuropathy.
Selenium can also cause bloating, nausea, and stinky breath. All bad.
It may act as an antioxidant, but we have that covered with many copper and zinc antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, ceruloplasmin, glutathione, metallothioneins, etc.
It does not fit the pattern of the good and great nutrients. Its a nutrient, “maybe”.
Selenium is also not easily excreted.
People who take selenium, even a low 200 mcg, often have blood readings that are high off the charts, which is weird, perhaps a warning signal.
And we took selenium for 9 years, from 200 to 400 mcg.
There are lists of side effects of selenium. We had most of them, including brittle fingernails, nausea, and diarrhea.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium/healthProfessional/#h20
NIH: “Selenosis is the result of chronically high intakes of selenium. It is most commonly characterized by hair loss and nail brittleness or loss, but other signs and symptoms can include a garlic odor in the breath, a metallic taste in the mouth, skin rash, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, irritability, and nervous system abnormalities. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level for selenium is 400 mcg for adults, and it ranges from 45 mcg to 400 mcg for infants, children, and adolescents, depending on age.”
Now, 1 month after quitting selenium, we are noticing less bloating, almost no bloating, better fingernails, and zero diarrhea.
This should simplify the protocol, and reduce common side effects, especially bloating, which was a common complaint about our protocol, etc.
Side Note: MSM Sulfur can also cause bloating, which we also removed.
We don’t always agree with everything over at the NIH, but they do link to independent research, and they are a good starting point for anyone doing serious research, because you should at least be aware of what the establishment says.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium/healthProfessional