Loading ...Cutting Edge FitnessSelenium - the Secret to Strong Muscles?
It’s considered normal to lose muscle mass and strength as we age. But why? One reason may be related to a mineral called selenium. A recent study reports that older adults with the lowest levels of this trace element in their blood were twice as likely to have muscle weakness around the hands, hips, and knees as those with the most selenium.
The body uses selenium to create proteins called selenoproteins, antioxidants that protect cells from damage. The researchers suspect that low levels of selenoprotein may lead to loss of strength. They published their study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
More research needs to be done to see if increasing selenium consumption will help ward off weakness. For now, it wouldn’t hurt to be sure you get the recommended daily allowance of selenium, which isn’t much — just 55 micrograms a day. Good food sources include meat and seafood, such as beef, chicken, turkey, cod and tuna.
[Ed. Note: Are you vitamin-D deficient? Most of the population is. Yet this powerful vitamin can help protect you from many of the life-threatening diseases that plague modern men and women. Fortunately, there's an easy way to up your vitamin D quotient. Better yet, it's free. To learn more, click here.]
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