Guest guest Posted June 19, 2003 Report Share Posted June 19, 2003 Selenium: Powerful Antioxidant JoAnn Guest Feb 15, 2003 19:06 PST Selenium-- Powerful Antioxidant For several years we've been telling you about the advantages of selenium - a naturally occurring mineral with powerful antioxidant properties. We've told you about studies that have shown how a sufficient selenium intake may lower the risk of prostate, breast, colorectal and lung cancers. Now a recent study from Indiana University Cancer Center and Indiana University School of Medicine has explored the theory that selenium activates an important tumor-suppressing gene called p53. Scientists estimate that the p53 gene is mutated in as much as 70% of all cancers. In experiments performed on human lung cancer cells, the Indiana researchers used selenomethionine, the major component of selenium, to treat cells that contained p53 genes, and other cells that were deficient in p53. Results showed conclusively that selenomethionine not only activated the p53 protein, but also protected cells containing p53. Based on these findings, the researchers speculate that selenium therapy may act as a cancer preventive by enhancing the vitality of p53 genes. When the p53 genes function properly, cells are more likely to repair the DNA damage that may promote cancer. ----------------------------- The versatile antioxidant ----------------------------- In addition to its excellent cancer fighting abilities, many studies have shown that selenium's antioxidant properties may also fight autoimmune disorders and help increase insulin efficiency. Other research has concluded that selenium may be able to stop viruses from mutating and becoming more potent. And in an e-Alert I sent you HSI Panelist Martin Milner, N.D., has used selenium for many years in his cancer protocol to reduce the complications from chemotherapy and to increase general longevity. Clearly, the importance of selenium in our diets can't be overstated. Plant foods are the major dietary sources of selenium, but the amount of selenium in any plant depends on the selenium content of the soil it's grown in. For instance, soils on the high plains of North America have high amounts of selenium, while the soil in much of China contains low amounts. So while garlic tends to contain good amounts of this mineral, the amounts vary depending on the soil the garlic is grown in. The Brazil nut is the undisputed selenium champ, with one ounce containing as much as 840 micrograms (mcg) - well over the government recommended daily intake of 50 mcg. However, Dr. Martin L. Smith, the author of the Indiana study, noted that the average diet probably falls short of 50 mcg per day. Furthermore, Dr. Smith believes that in order to reap the cancer preventive qualities of selenium, intake needs to be around 200 mcg per day. In other words, if you can't or don't want to add a quarter ounce of Brazil nuts to your daily diet, you might want to add selenium to your supplement regimen. But you should also be aware that too much selenium can be toxic. By too much, I mean an intake of more than 2,500 mcg per day. So if you currently take a multi-vitamin, check to see if you're already getting some amount of selenium. You may be getting enough, but the chances that you're getting near a dangerous dose are extremely slim. JoAnn Guest jgu- DietaryTi- http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Botanicals.html http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html *theaimcompanies* -Wisdom of the past,Food of the future- " Health is not a Medical Issue " The complete " Whole Body " Health line consists of the " AIM GARDEN TRIO " Ask About Health Professional Support Series: AIM Barleygreen " Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future " http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 In a message dated 20/6/03 6:35:52 pm, widewest writes: > The rate-limiting factor in glutathione production is cystine, a > dipeptide, and some cysteine-containing amino acid chains. Cysteine > by itself is treated by the body as a toxin, and also produces toxic > metabolites. > Duncan, I am very ignorant of this cystine, cysteine, glutathione progression but would like to know more. If cysteine by itself is considered a toxin by the body, then are you taking a chances by having a lot of goat's whey, for example, or even a lot of egg yolks? Don't they contain a lot of cysteine? thank you for your patience in this -- I am sorry if the question above is totally stupid. marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 Selenium, a metal, is not an antioxidant by itself; it's only considered to be an antioxidant after it combines with three amino acids to form glutathione, your body's most powerful healing agent, and to a much lesser extent, selenomethionine. The rate-limiting factor in glutathione production is cystine, a dipeptide, and some cysteine-containing amino acid chains. Cysteine by itself is treated by the body as a toxin, and also produces toxic metabolites. Duncan Crow > > Selenium: Powerful Antioxidant JoAnn Guest Feb 15, 2003 19:06 PST > Selenium-- Powerful Antioxidant > > In addition to its excellent cancer fighting abilities, many > studies have shown that selenium's antioxidant properties may > also fight autoimmune disorders and help increase insulin > efficiency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 In a message dated 6/20/2003 11:35:53 AM Pacific Standard Time, widewest writes: > Duncan Crow Are you supposed to take selenium with the whey isolates? JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2003 Report Share Posted June 21, 2003 Cysteine in those natural products is already bound with other amino acids; it is good. It is the free-form cysteine that is not good. And JJ, yes, take selenium with the other glutathione precursors such as whey isolate. Duncan Crow > Re: Re: Selenium: Powerful Antioxidant > > > In a message dated 20/6/03 6:35:52 pm, widewest writes: > > > > The rate-limiting factor in glutathione production is cystine, a > > dipeptide, and some cysteine-containing amino acid chains. Cysteine by > > itself is treated by the body as a toxin, and also produces toxic > > metabolites. > > > > Duncan, > > I am very ignorant of this cystine, cysteine, glutathione progression but > would like to know more. If cysteine by itself is considered a toxin by > the body, then are you taking a chances by having a lot of goat's whey, > for example, or even a lot of egg yolks? Don't they contain a lot of > cysteine? > > thank you for your patience in this -- I am sorry if the question above is > totally stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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