Micronutrients & recovery
Brazil nuts are an exceptionally high but highly variable source of selenium that may also deliver toxic levels of barium and radium, posing health risks if consumed regularly as a primary selenium source.
If you eat Brazil nuts for selenium, limit your intake. A few nuts can provide enough selenium but may also deliver toxic levels of barium and radioactive radium. Do not rely on them as your sole source of selenium; rotate with other foods like seafood or meat, which have more predictable selenium levels and fewer toxic co-contaminants.
Brazil nuts are the richest source of food Se, but the content is very variable... Brazil nuts are exceedingly high in barium, containing levels up to 4000 mg barium/g... It is clear that this could readily be exceeded by a modest serving of Brazil nuts. Furthermore, Brazil nuts contain small amounts of radium... this is 1000 times higher than in other foods.
Why this rating
The paper cites specific studies measuring barium and radium levels in Brazil nuts and compares them to EPA reference doses.
Source
Food-chain selenium and human health: emphasis on intake
Margaret P. Rayman · British Journal Of Nutrition · 2008
DOI 10.1017/s0007114508939830
More from this paper
- Selenium intake exhibits extreme variability based on soil geology and plant species, making it difficult to define a single optimal intake level without considering specific health contexts and selenium species.Good
- Selenium supplementation can reduce the risk of specific cancers (prostate, colorectal, lung) and improve immune function and cognitive health, but the benefits are highly dependent on baseline selenium status and the form of selenium used.Good
Related findings · Micronutrients & recovery
- Trans fats (industrial trans-fatty acids) are unequivocally harmful and should be completely avoided as they raise LDL-C, TGs, and Apo B while lowering HDL-C.Strong
- For menopausal women with osteoporosis, first-line pharmacologic therapies include alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, and denosumab for the prevention of hip, nonvertebral, and vertebral fractures.Strong
- Folic acid fortification of flour prevents neural tube birth defects, and mandatory fortification is more effective than voluntary supplementation alone.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →