I believe most of us play it safe in just about everything we do. We don’t take chances, because we don’t know how to identify risks.
Our health involves lots of risks. Most of them we don’t know about. Take something simple, minerals. Do you know if you are getting enough in your diet or supplements?
I was reading an article yesterday on selenium. It is a mineral found in grains, dairy and many protein sources. Comparing people with high selenium levels in their bodies to those at the lower ranges shows a lot of risks. For the group with higher levels of selenium, there is a 39% reduction in risk for bladder cancer, 90% reduction in risk for lung cancer, 77% reduction in risk of throat cancer, 71% reduction in risk for prostate cancer, and a 45% reduction in risk for head and neck cancers.
Our bodies require three different forms of selenium – sodium selenite, L-selenomethionine, and selenium-methyl L-selenocysteine. Most supplements only give you one. Many don’t even tell which one they are providing – it is just listed as selenium.
If you don’t know, how can you assess a risk? Selenium is one of many nutrients. Google nutrient deficiencies and you’ll find that the majority of Americans are deficient in vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin K2, vitamin B-12, magnesium, vitamin E (all eight forms), vitamin A, iodine, calcium, iron and choline. Selenium didn’t even make the top ten list.
We take risks every day with our health because we are not aware of what is required for good health. This blog addresses only the nutrient aspect of health. There are many others that should be included for total wellness.
Find a good source of health and wellness information. Become aware of what is required for good health. Unfortunately, most doctors are not trained in nutrition and wellness. When in doubt, consult your physician before changing anything in your life, especially if you are under a doctor’s care. Become aware, get educated and take action.