Selenium is a trace mineral your body needs, but in small amounts. Getting enough supports your health in several ways. Plant foods are the primary source of selenium, and the amount depends on the selenium level of the soil where the food is grown. Potato chips contain selenium and can help you reach your daily recommended intake.
Daily Recommended Intake
The daily recommended intake for selenium varies depending on age. Babies between the ages of 0 and 6 months need 15 mcg per day. Children ages 6 months to 3 years should get 20 mcg each day, those age 4 to 8 need 30 mcg, and children between the ages of 9 and 13 need 40 mcg daily. Anyone ages 14 and older should get 55 mcg each day.
Function
Selenium has antioxidant properties, which means adequate intake can help counteract the effect of free radicals in the environment that damage cells and lead to health conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Selenium also plays a role in the function of your immune system and thyroid. A deficiency can contribute to heart disease, lowered immunity and hypothyroidism, but deficiency is rare in the United States, reports the Office of Dietary Supplements. People with gastrointestinal issues, such as Crohn's disease, have a higher chance of being deficient and might need to take a daily selenium supplement.
Potato Chips
An 8 oz. bag of plain potato chips contains 18.4 mcg of selenium. A 1 oz. serving contains 2.3 mcg. This number might vary among brands of potato chips because the selenium in potatoes differs depending on the amount in the soil in which they are grown. The amount of selenium doesn't change significantly among the different flavors of potato chips, and eating them can help you get to your daily recommended intake totals without much effort.
Considerations
While potato chips are a good source of selenium, they aren't something you should eat in large amounts on a regular basis. Potato chips are high in fat, salt and calories, which could lead to weight gain, an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, as well as diabetes. An 8 oz. bag of plain potato chips contains 1,230 calories, nearly 83 g of fat and 1,192 mg of sodium. People who eat the entire bag in one sitting are setting themselves up for a host of medical problems if done so on a regular basis. A more reasonable 1 oz. serving contains 154 calories, 10 g of fat and 149 mg of sodium. When eating potato chips, it is important to do so in moderation to keep your fat, calorie and salt intake down, which is better for your health, regardless of how much selenium you are getting.
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