The recommended daily intake of selenium for Koreans is 55μg. A microgram (μg) is one millionth of a gram. Another mineral, iodine, is 150 μg, and calcium, a large mineral that is one of the highest recommended intakes, is about 700 mg, which is less than 1 gram.
However, the importance of trace amounts should not be overlooked. Like I said before, it's a very small amount, but it's essential for our bodies to function properly. Now, through some interesting research, we will make sure that the importance and properties of these three minerals are firmly in your mind.
First, supplementation with selenium may have an impact on improving cognitive function.
Esther's Tip: Selenium is very abundant in Brazil nuts, as mentioned earlier. Therefore, there is a concern about overintake, so it is recommended to take only about 2 tablets a day to avoid exceeding the upper intake limit.
Second, zinc plays a key role in male sexual function
Iodine makes up the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the body. They have very important tasks, such as regulating the basal metabolic rate in the body, promoting protein synthesis, and being involved in the development of the central nervous system. However, studies have shown that obese people tend to have lower urinary iodine levels. In other words, the more obese you are, the more likely you are to develop iodine deficiency. [5-6]
Conversely, hypothyroidism occurs when iodine deficiency prevents the thyroid gland from producing enough thyroid hormones, which can lead to weight gain due to a slowdown in metabolic processes throughout the body.
Esther's Tip: Iodine can be obtained from seaweed such as seaweed and seaweed. However, due to the nature of the Korean diet, iodine intake is basically high, so if you have thyroid disease, you should be careful about excessive intake.
Today, we've taken a look at minerals, which are our body's small and precious workers who are working hard behind the scenes. I hope that this year will be a year to build the foundation of good health through balanced nutrition. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you as always.
[1] Chen J. (2012). An original discovery: selenium deficiency and Keshan disease (an endemic heart disease). Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 21(3):320-326.
[2] Rita Cardoso, B., Apolinário, D., da Silva Bandeira, V. et al (2016). Effects of Brazil nut consumption on selenium status and cognitive performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled pilot trial. Eur J Nutr, 55:107-116.
[3] Zhao, J., Dong, X., Hu, X., Long, Z., Wang, L., Liu, Q., Sun, B., Wang, Q., Wu, Q., & Li, L. (2016). Zinc levels in seminal plasma and their correlation with male infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific reports, 6, 22386.
[4] Prasad AS, Mantzoros CS, Beck FW, Hess JW, Brewer GJ. Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition. 1996 May; 12(5):344-8.
[5] Simona De Angelis, Marcello Bagnasco, Mariacarla Moleti, et al (2021). Obesity and Monitoring Iodine Nutritional Status in Schoolchildren: is Body Mass Index a Factor to Consider? Thyroid, 31(5):829-840.
[6] Lecube, A., Zafon, C., Gromaz, A. et al (2015). Iodine Deficiency Is Higher in Morbid Obesity in Comparison with Late After Bariatric Surgery and Non-obese Women. OBES SURG, 25:85–89.
Comments (0)
There are no comments for this article. Be the first one to leave a message!