Go nuts for selenium
Brazil nuts are a rich source of selenium but until now no studies have investigated how available this mineral is for us to use (bioavailability). Researchers from the University of Otago in Dunedin in New Zealand found that consuming just two Brazil nuts a day for 12 weeks increased the amount of selenium in the blood by over 60 per cent. The authors of this study concluded that including Brazil nuts in the diet could avoid the need for supplements.
Thomson CD, Chisholm A, McLachlan SK, Campbell JM. 2008. Brazil nuts: an effective way to improve selenium status. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 87 (2) 379-384.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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