Brazil Nuts Boost Selenium and Glutathione Levels

Consuming only 2 Brazil nuts per day can increase the blood levels of the mineral selenium and the antioxidant enzyme glutathione.

Scientists at the University of Otago, in New Zealand tested the blood of 59 adults before and after consuming two Brazil nuts, 100mcg of selenium, or a placebo every day for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, blood levels of selenium had increased by 64.2% for the Brazil nut group, 61.0% for the selenium group and 7.6% for the placebo group.

Importantly, blood levels of the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase, which is dependent on selenium to function, rose 8.3% and 3.4% in the Brazil nut and selenium groups and fell 1.2% in the placebo group.

The research was published in the February 2008 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

So go ahead and grab a couple of Brazil nuts each day. Your body may just thank you for it!

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; February 2008, Volume 87, No 2, Pages 379-384; " Brazil nuts: an effective way to improve selenium status"; Christine D Thomson, Alexandra Chisholm, Sarah K McLachlan, and Jennifer M Campbell.