selenium

Selenium plays a significant role in various cultures around the world, particularly due to its health benefits and its variability in its abundance in different soils. In regions with selenium-poor soils, especially arid areas, a selenium-rich diet may be culturally important to prevent deficiency symptoms. Because selenium is essential for many important bodily functions—including thyroid function, immune defense, and protection against oxidative stress—it is often considered a means of promoting general health in the folk medicine of various cultures. Furthermore, in many cultures that rely on agricultural self-sufficiency, selenium is considered an essential component of soil quality and, thus, crop quality. Due to its detoxifying effects against heavy metals, it is also valued in traditions that emphasize natural body cleansing methods. Thus, selenium has gained importance in diverse cultures from various health and environmental perspectives.