Drawing the Line Between Too Much and Too Little: Signs of Selenium Deficiency and Toxicity

🕑8 min read | Published: April 1, 2025 | By: Aadvik Foods

When considering dietary requirements, Selenium might not be the first thing that strikes our mind; but trust me, this trace micronutrient plays an important role in our health. Its role in strengthening the immune system, and supporting the functions of the thyroid, heart, and brain along with the power of reducing oxidative stress is that also helps in Autism and ASD are widely accepted and documented. But, do you know where the catch is? Just like a relative who never shows up or overstays their welcome, an appropriate balance is required for its intake. The body will throw tantrums, in both the cases-whether too little or too much.

So, to stay in the right zone, let us delve into the signs of selenium deficiency or selenium toxicity that may be handy.

When is your body running out - Selenium Deficiency

When the body is not getting enough Selenium for its proper functioning, a deficit situation may arise. It may not be super common but, there may be certain risk factors that may place you in a fix.

Why you may be missing out?

Poor dietary choices like living off processed foods and skipping selenium rich foods like selenium nuts, eggs, fish, camel milk, and leafy vegetables.
If your gut is not vibing and you have struggles like Crohn’s Disease that messes with nutrient uptake by the gut, you might run low on Selenium.
Some soils naturally do not serve enough selenium, hence, the food produced is not selenium rich. So this ground game may be a factor in low selenium in your body too.

Red Flags you mustn’t ignore: Signs of Selenium Deficiency

If infections have started loving you and you catch colds and other infections more easily than usual, your immunity may be suffering.
For no reason, you are tired and feel sore? Your muscles may be missing the required dose of selenium.
If there are more hairs on your hairbrush and the floor than on your head, it’s a sign of Selenium deficiency.
If you are struggling with focusing and frequently forgetting things, your brain cells may be starved of selenium power.
Trying for a baby, and not happening? Again this might be Selenium deficiency, as it is an important player in maintaining fertility in both women and men.

Selenium is a big deal- Benefits of Selenium we need to know

Selenium is one of the most valuable players (MVP) in overall health. It helps in immunity boosting, help in reduction of oxidative stress, and brain cell protection. It keeps you healthy, sharp and focused. And its glow-up powers cannot be ignored as well. But, there is a catch: too much or too little can mess up things!

Too much of a good thing goes wrong- Selenium Toxicity

On the flip side, too much of Selenium is not great either. Overloading this mineral can make you uncomfortable as well. More than 400 mcg is recommended as an overload.

How can overloading happen?

Popping excess selenium supplements without checking with the doctor may lead to overdosing.
Although munching those Selenium nuts can be helpful, overdoing it can push you over the danger zone.

Watching the Warning Signs

High levels of selenium can cause nausea and vomiting.
Brittle nails and hair fall (The sudden surge of alopecia cases of Buldhana is a classic example of the same) may be a sign of overload. And yes, both deficiency or overload of selenium may lead to loss of hair.
Garlicky breath is the most distinctive sign of selenium toxicity.
Extra fatigue or irritability may be due to selenium levels as well.

The Selenium Showdown: Not Enough vs. Overload

Aspects	Not Enough	Overload
Definition	When the body does not get enough of the trace micronutrient, selenium, the condition is referred to as Selenium Deficiency	When selenium is consumed in excess amounts than required by the body, it leads to health issues, and the condition is referred to as Selenium Toxicity
Signs	Weak Immune system, brain fog, muscle weakness, thyroid and fertility issues	Nausea, hair fall, irritability, fatigue
Solutions	Intake of selenium-rich foods	Cutting back on selenium foods

Selenium on the plate- Tasty way to stay healthy

So how to keep those Selenium levels on point? It’s better not to use any fancy supplements and trust the natural Selenium rich foods. A breakfast of a nice spinach omelet is all you require and the non-egg eaters can have a glass of camel milk.

There are a lot of myths that revolve around Selemium, check the facts and make informed dietary choices. Getting enough selenium is no rocket science. Just a nice mix and match of the right foods can keep up with the needs. With selenium foods from different sources, you’re all set.

Strike the balance

The deal is- Selenium is a must-have, but this has to be in moderation. If not taken in appropriate amounts, it may cause health issues. So including selenium-rich foods like seafood, eggs, selenium nuts, camel milk, and spinach in the regular diet may be a smart choice for all.

Also, any symptoms of toxicity or deficiency should not be ignored. It is recommended to consult a healthcare professional and get tested to figure out ways of restoring balance.

Keep the Selenium levels in check and stay healthy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs of Selenium toxicity?

The signs of Selenium toxicity are nausea, hair and skin problems, brittle nails, garlic breath, and nerve-related diseases in extreme cases.

What are the 6 signs of selenium deficiency?

The 6 signs are:

Nausea or vomiting
Weak immune system
Hair loss and brittle nails
Brain fog or memory loss
Thyroid and Fertility problems
Fatigue

What is the difference between Selenium deficiency and Selenium toxicity?

If too much selenium is consumed, selenium toxicity can occur and lack of selenium in the body causes selenium deficiency.

What organ is damaged by a selenium deficiency?

Selenium deficiency can damage the heart and thyroid gland.

How much selenium per day is toxic?

If consumed more than 400 mcg per day selenium becomes toxic.

Can I eat Brazil nuts every day?

Of course, but limit it to one only per day to avoid overload.

Can I consume camel milk daily?

Yes, if it is available you can consume camel milk every day. But if fresh milk is not available, you can go forth with camel milk powder.

Is selenium deficiency common in India?

No, Selenium deficiency is not common in India.

How long does it take to recover from toxicity?

It takes around 1 to 2 weeks to recover from selenium toxicity.

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