Benefits of selenium: its role in antioxidants and why we need it
Selenium. The nutrient that’s not talked about enough.
Did you know that 1 in 7 people are selenium deficient [1]? Also, soil selenium levels in the UK are predicted to drop by more than 10 per cent due to climate change and farming methods. Why is this important and what role does selenium play? While our Skin Antioxidant supplement already comes with an array of benefits, we have recently enriched this formula with the multitasking mineral selenium. Our skin researchers break down the nitty gritty, explain why we need selenium, it’s role in our new Skin Antioxidant formula and our special sourcing story.
Five facts you need to know:
- Selenium is an essential micronutrient
- Provides antioxidant activity, reducing free radicals and oxidative stress*
- Activates an enzyme important for the regeneration of vitamin C*
- Supports immune health*
- Helps support hair and nails*
What is selenium?
It’s an essential micronutrient found in many meat and plant-based foods including brazil nuts, beans, broccoli, fish, chicken, and eggs. It plays a key role in the body including antioxidant protection*. Foods are a major natural source of selenium, and its levels are dependent on soil selenium levels, so this drop in the UK can easily impact the dosage we’re receiving from our plant-based foods. Selenium exists in two forms. The inorganic form (selenate and selenite) is found in rocks and soil, while an organic form (selenomethionine and selenocysteine) is found in plants and animal products. Although both supply dietary sources of selenium, research suggests that the organic form is superior for supplementation. Our researchers chose the organic form for Skin Antioxidant.
Selenium benefits and why we need it
Selenium helps your body stay healthy, acting as an important antioxidant helping to support your immune system* and protect the body from free radicals and infections. It also helps to regenerate vitamin C in the body, supports thyroid and reproductive functions* and maintain hair and nail health*. In one study, it was found people with a lower level of selenium had psoriasis, acne and atopic dermatitis, making it key for skin health**.
Skin Antioxidant: Selenium upgrade
With this in mind, it’s evident why our skin researchers decided to add selenium to the formula of our Skin Antioxidant. Encased in a purple carrot coloured capsule, Skin Antioxidant is packed with seven plant nutrients: bilberry, turmeric, green tea, grape seed, lutein, beta carotene and lycopene. Enriching this formula with selenium works to help protect your skin against oxidative stress* whilst providing ultimate skin resilience.
What’s different about our Selenium?
When developing our formula, our researchers reviewed an array of sources to match our guiding principles of purity and potency. They opted to use the natural form of selenium found in plants and vegetables which is sourced via a natural method of production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. A similar yeast is also found in our Skin Clear BiomeTM. This production method converts inorganic selenium to organic, body ready form of selenium - selenomethionine. No harsh methods or chemicals are used in the manufacturing process - this means - there is no chance of our capsules containing any pollutants, heavy metals, or pesticides.
Which products contain Skin Antioxidant?
This new formula will be phased into our Skin Antioxidant and other duos and skin boxes during the next couple of months. The new Skin Antioxidant is available in Skin Ultimate and Skin Select from May 2022. It will pulse through to other products such as Skin Complete , Skin Antioxidant, Skin Plus and Skin Aesthetic Pack in the upcoming months.
*Selenium contributes to maintenance of normal hair and normal nails. Contributes to the normal function of the immune system, normal thyroid function and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
** Trials studied by Lv J, et al. Selenium levels and skin diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2020 Dec;62:12654