10 Nutrients Women Need
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Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that's important for many processes in the body. Found in almost every cell, selenium acts as an antioxidant to prevent damage to DNA. It also helps the body fight viral infections, cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. Selenium is required for healthy skin, hair, eyes and liver function. Women need a minimum of 55 micrograms of selenium per day. Good sources of the mineral include seafood, meats, chicken and Brazil nuts.
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It's also available as a supplement. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant that destroys free radicals and prevents the destruction of vitamin A. it also protects lung cells, and recent studies suggest that it helps prevent heart disease, cataracts, strokes, cancer and slows the aging process. It's especially important for women because it helps relieve the symptoms of fibrocystic breast disease and often relieves hot flashes associated with menopause. Adult women need a minimum of 15 mg vitamin E daily, but amounts up to 1,000 mg per day are considered safe. In addition to supplements, vitamin E can be found in nuts, seeds, avocados and vegetable oils like olive, sunflower, safflower and canola.
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