Yeast infections can affect men, women and children at any age and are an annoyance. Proper consumption of selenium may help you to avoid Candida overgrowth within your body. Knowledge of which foods contain selenium, and how much your body needs, can help you balance the amount of yeast and avoid these types of infections.
Selenium
Selenium is a mineral that your body needs in small amounts for optimal health. This mineral is transformed into important antioxidant enzymes called selenoproteins. According to the National Institutes of Health, selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to cancer, heart disease and other chronic illnesses. Selenoproteins play a role in regulating thyroid function and support the immune system.
Selenium-Rich Foods
The main dietary source of selenium in most countries is provided by plant foods. The soil where plants are grown or animals are raised, determines the amount of selenium content consumed. Citizens of the United States with the highest levels of selenium live in the high plains of northern Nebraska and the Dakotas. Because the U.S. distributes food across the country, people living in low selenium areas still receive adequate amounts in their diet. China and Russia grow and eat their food locally. Because some parts of these regions have low amounts of selenium, deficiency is often reported. Selenium is found in some meats and seafood. Some meats, seafood and nuts are efficient sources of selenium.
Candida
Candida lives in your intestinal tract and is a yeast microorganism. It lives in your bowel with helpful bacteria called probiotics. The National Candida Center reports that a healthy person has about 10 bacteria for every one yeast, but problems arise when this ratio is thrown off balance. When your body contains no healthy probiotics to keep it under control, yeast rapidly multiplies and causes Candida overgrowth yeast infection. This type of a yeast infection often begins in the digestive system and spreads throughout the body. By the time someone has an external yeast infection, yeast has already spread internally.
Selenium Defficiency and Candida
According to the Journal of Nutrition, Phagocytes require selenium to function and are essential for cell mediated immunity. Because of this requirement, selenium deficiency causes a predisposition to the overgrowth of Candida, leading to yeast infections. Selenium deficiency also impairs the body's neutrophils from killing Candida.
Selenium Supplement Warning
The National Institutes of Health reports that selenium supplements are believed to be safe for most people as long as the dose is less than 400 micrograms per day. Nausea, vomiting, loss of energy, changes in your nails and irritability may occur if you exceed this dose. Long-term use of selenium can lead to type 2 diabetes, skin cancer recurrence and poisoning that is similar to arsenic poisoning. Signs of selenium poisoning include hair loss, white streaking on fingernails, nail swelling, taste of metal, tiredness, irritability, garlic odor from breath, nausea and vomiting. Selenium has been known to cause tremors, muscle tenderness, coagulation problems, feeling light headed, facial flushing, liver problems and kidney problems. Consult with your physician before beginning any supplement treatment.
