Selenium
Like other antioxidants, selenium protects cells from free radicals that can cause cancer and heart disease. Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential to good health but required only in small amounts.
Plant foods are the major dietary sources of selenium in most countries throughout the world. The content of selenium in food depends on the selenium content of the soil where plants are grown or animals are raised.
Selenium is found in meat, wheat germ, nuts (particularly Brazil nuts...more on these next), eggs, oats, whole wheat bread, and brown rice. Sadly however, modern farming practices have depleted the soil, so many people don't get sufficient selenium from their diets anymore. Refining and processing also reduce selenium levels, which is why eating whole, unprocessed, organic food is the best way to obtain the nutrient. Since this isn't always possible, it is highly recommended that you use supplements with selenium.
Where you get Selenium: Lobster, clams, crabs, whole grains, Brazil nuts and oysters. Selenium content of foods can vary. For example, Brazil nuts may contain as much as 544 micrograms of selenium per ounce. They also may contain far less selenium. It is wise to eat Brazil nuts only occasionally because of their unusually high intake of selenium.

