As they age, one of the biggest concerns for older people is cancer prevention. Cancer has a certain relationship with age, and the risk of developing cancer gradually increases as we age. Therefore, the elderly pay more attention to nutritional supplementation, among which selenium is known as the "king of cancer prevention" because it has a significant effect on cancer prevention. So, how to supplement selenium through food, enhance immunity, and prevent the occurrence of cancer?
The importance of selenium.
Selenium is a trace element, one of the essential trace elements for the human body. It is widely regarded as the "king of cancer prevention" because it not only strengthens immunity and prevents a variety of diseases, but also fights aging and maintains the body's balance. Selenium has multiple benefits for the human body:
Remove garbage from blood vessels: Selenium is known as a "vascular scavenger", which can repair damaged blood vessel cells by increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin, thereby preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Boost metabolism: Selenium plays an important role in the body's metabolism, helping to repair, digest and produce antioxidants, thereby protecting the digestive system and preventing digestive tract diseases.
Eye protection: Selenium is very important for the eyes, it can remove peroxide in the eye, repair damaged eye cells, and keep the eyes bright.
Prevention of diabetes: Selenium deficiency is one of the main factors causing diabetes. Selenium can restore destroyed pancreatic B cells, reduce hemoglobin and blood sugar levels, and regulate metabolic function in diabetic patients.
The relationship between selenium and cancer.
A lack of selenium in the body greatly increases the risk of cancer. The results of the study show that the carcinogenesis of many important organs such as the stomach, prostate, and esophagus is greatly related to the lack of selenium in the body. The incidence of cancer is much higher in people with low selenium than in people with high selenium, which means that the amount of selenium in those with cancer is very limited. If the body is in a state of selenium deficiency for a long time, it will damage cells and even cause cancer.
Selenium plays an important protective role in the immune system and is able to maintain the normal functioning of the body's immunity. Selenium deficiency can lead to dryness, endocrine disruptions, and skin problems. In addition, long-term selenium deficiency can also accelerate aging, because selenium has antioxidant properties, and too much oxides and free radicals in the body can lead to aging.
The benefits of selenium supplementation are self-evident, and next we will introduce three foods that are excellent for selenium supplementation**.
Organ meats. Animal offal is one of the foods richest in selenium. The internal organs of animals such as chicken liver and pig liver are rich in selenium, and moderate consumption can effectively supplement selenium. However, it should be noted that the fat content of animal offal is also relatively high, and the elderly should eat it in moderation if they have problems such as high blood pressure and high blood lipids, so as not to increase the cardiovascular burden.
According to the recommendations of the dietary guidelines, the elderly should not eat animal offal more than twice a month, and the amount should not exceed 100 grams each time. Moderate consumption of animal offal can help replenish selenium, but not in excess.
Nut. Nuts are another food category rich in selenium. Nuts such as walnuts, pistachios, cashews, almonds, and pine nuts are rich in selenium. Nuts are not only rich in selenium, but also contain a lot of antioxidants, which have anti-cancer effects. Cashews are especially high in antioxidants.
Studies have shown that people who consume nuts more than three times a week have a 55 percent lower cancer rate and a 40 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease. In addition, nuts are also rich in vitamins, proteins, unsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients, which help to activate cells and have certain anti-aging ability.
The oils in nuts also aid in excretion and help with laxatives. But beware, overconsumption or consumption of spoiled nuts can cause health damage. Spoiled nuts may contain aflatoxins, a Class 1 carcinogen.
Mushroom food.
Mushroom foods are often overlooked, but they are good for selenium**. Mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, fungus, shiitake mushrooms, etc. are all high-selenium foods.
As a high-selenium food, mushrooms are not only rich in selenium, but also contain a variety of other nutrients. The selenium in mushrooms can boost immunity and reduce the risk of disease. Shiitake mushrooms contain a variety of nutrients needed by the human body, including vitamins, minerals, etc.
Not only do these foods provide a rich source of selenium, but they also have other health benefits. Therefore, in the daily diet, middle-aged and elderly people can consume these mushroom foods in moderation to ensure adequate selenium intake.
Summary. Selenium plays an important role in cancer prevention and health maintenance, especially for middle-aged and older adults. Moderate intake of selenium can help enhance immunity, reduce the risk of cancer, maintain cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, prevent diabetes, and delay aging.
By eating animal offal, nuts and mushrooms, middle-aged and elderly people can effectively supplement selenium and improve the body's immunity. However, selenium supplementation also needs to be moderate and should not be excessive. Adhering to a reasonable diet can reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases to a certain extent, and maintain a healthy body.
What are your thoughts on this?Feel free to leave your views in the comments section!