Selenium is destroyed when foods are refined or processed. You should try eating a wide variety of whole, unprocessed foods. This means eating foods in their original state, not canned, frozen, or commercially prepared. Your health care provider may recommend that you add selenium to your diet. You can do this by taking a vitamin-mineral supplement, a nutritional antioxidant formula, or a separate supplement.
Selenium is also available in nutritional yeast.
How to Take It Clinical trials suggest that you take 50 to 200 mcg of selenium daily to see real benefits. Pregnant and nursing mothers' needs increase to 65 to 75 mcg daily. Researchers say that most of us need to take more than 100 mcg of selenium supplements daily to see improvements in disease resistance and overall health. As with all medicines and supplements, check with a health care provider before giving selenium supplements to a child. Take selenium with vitamin E daily for best results.