Books – like everything else – are a moment in time.
Just Cause and Effect: Selenium Deficiency in New Zealand tells the history of farming and nutrition in our country, the conclusion that selenium is an essential mineral is inescapable, and the strong probability that most of us don’t have nearly enough of it.
How much is enough? Well the recommended level for good health is between 1.6 and 1.9 umol/L according to a 2012 review published by Nutrition Professor Margaret Raymon in The Lancet. What’s the reference range in New Zealand? I hear you ask. That would be significantly lower – between 0.45 to 1.40. (If you like percentages, that between 28 and 73 percent the internationally recommended level).
Can you find out your own selenium level? You certainly can. Like information worth having it doesn’t come free. It’s a simple blood test available at most NZ blood labs by self-referral where, for a fee, you can test your own selenium level before deciding if you need to supplement.
Why does it matter? Just Cause and Effect: Selenium Deficiency in New Zealand is a long-ish story, written for an easy read . So grab yourself a copy, settle down in a shady spot with a cool drink and find out why it matters.
