Selenium Scare

More is not better.

Recently two mass-market, bargain-brand multiple vitamins were found to contain hazardous levels of the mineral selenium. The US Food and Drug Administration received 43 reports of adverse effects, and advised consumers to stop using both products. The sole U.S. distributor of these supplements (sold as "Total Body Formula" and "Total Body Mega Formula") has voluntarily recalled both products.

So what’s the lesson here?

The amount of selenium found in the recalled products was an incredible 40,800 mcg. That's forty thousand times the normal amount!

The lesson here is not that selenium is a dangerous nutrient. Selenium is absolutely essential to human health. The mineral has been associated with lower rates of cancer, works with vitamin E as a powerful antioxidant duo and chelates to toxic metals like mercury making it easier for the body to detoxify them.

The lesson here is that it to buy high quality vitamins with strict quality control made in small batches by reputable companies. I can guarantee you there will never be a scare like the "Total Body" product with any product in the Freshlife line.

You have nothing to fear from supplements with selenium if you buy brands made by reputable vitamin manufacturers.

Barb Jarmoska, Freshlife founder