Selenium is an essential nutrient for humans. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells against damage from free radicals, as well as helping with thyroid functioning and protecting against damage to DNA.

Selenium deficiency can lead to a range of health problems including tiredness, hair loss, poor immunity, and reproductive difficulties. However, an excess of selenium can cause toxicity, leading to nausea, irritability, and other symptoms.

So it’s important to get an adequate amount of selenium in your diet, but not too much. Recommended daily intakes are about 60 mcg (microgrammes) for women and 75 mcg for men, whilst daily intakes above 300 mcg can cause toxicity.

There are many excellent vegan selenium sources.