Extensive scientific research shows that an adequate intake of the antioxidant mineral selenium and vitamins A, C and E play a part in all-round antioxidant protection against the damage caused to the body by excess free radicals and helps support the body's own natural defences.

What is an Antioxidant?
Antioxidants help protect cells and tissues from damage by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), also known as 'free radicals'. Free radicals are volatile, potentially toxic substances produced when we breathe and through exposure to sunlight, exhaust fumes, tobacco smoke and other pollutants as well as during infection and inflammation.

Antioxidant nutrients are able to quench free radicals before they can damage cells or tissues. The more free radicals present, the greater the need for antioxidant nutrients in our diet.

What is Selenium?
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that plays an important role in human nutrition.  It was not until 1973 that the importance of selenium in a nutritional role was ascertained.  Human studies around the world continue to show the key role that it plays in maintaining long-term health.

Selenium can only be obtained through dietary intake.  A healthy diet should form the basis of good nutrition. However, leading a busy life often makes eating regular, nutritionally balanced meals difficult.  Selenium can be obtained from whole-wheat cereals, kidney, liver, shellfish, brazil nuts and oily fish.

Over the past few years an increasing number of people have begun to obtain selenium from a nutritional supplement.  Recent reports have revealed that selenium levels in the average person in the UK are only marginally adequate. This is largely because of a reduction in the amount of selenium we get from our food - mainly due to a decrease in the use of North American wheat (high in selenium) for bread making.  As a result, in the UK, the daily intake of selenium from the food we eat has declined from 60-63 mcg per day in the 1970s and 1980s to 29-39 mcg per day (reports by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1997, 1999; Barclay et al 1995).  This amount compares unfavourably with guidelines, known as the reference nutrient intake, of 75 mcg per day for men and 60 mcg per day for women (Report by Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, 1991).

What is VitaBerry Plus?
VitaBerry Plus is a blend of concentrated fruit extracts and whole-fruit powders containing grapes, grape seed extract, bilberries, blueberries, cranberries, cherries, raspberries and strawberries which provide nutritious, high-ORAC antioxidants.

What does ORAC stand for?
The Oxygen Radical Absorbent Capacity (ORAC) is the scientific standard for measuring the antioxidant potency of foods. Since most of the active nutritional components in fruits and vegetables are antioxidants, accurate measurement of antioxidant activity serves as a good indicator of potential health benefits.

Selenium-ACE with VitaBerry Plus - Main Ingredients and their Nutritional Roles
All the major ingredients in Selenium-ACE VitaBerry Plus have been included for their antioxidant, free radical scavenging capabilities and for helping to maintain a healthy immune system.  Some of the ingredients do have additional properties.

SELENIUM
Selenium has a vital role in immune function, involved in the development of all white blood cells and it is also required for healthy function of the thyroid gland.

A word about selenium yeast.

Selenomethionine is the major component of selenium yeast. It is the natural source found in most foods. Yeast converts inorganic selenium mainly into selenomethionine using the same pathway as foods such as cereals. Inorganic forms of selenium are not natural substances in any food. The selenium that we consume from food sources is mainly the organic form.

A large number of successful human studies have been conducted using supplemental selenium yeast or higher levels of selenium intake from the diet. Long-term studies have also shown this form of selenium to be safe within the parameters of upper intake levels.

VITAMINS A, C, and E
Vitamin A is necessary for the maintenance of healthy mucous membranes, an important part of a fully-functional immune system.  Famously regarded as being important for eye health, it also has a part to play in male and female fertility.

Vitamin C also helps boost the immune system and is required for the production of collagen which is a structural protein to help resist wear and tear on tissues, e.g. skin, arteries, connective tissue.  It also has a role in the regeneration and recycling of vitamin E.

Vitamin E works in conjunction with selenium and may help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

PHYTOCHEMICALS
These plant derived substances, namely sulforaphane and polyphenols have strong antioxidant properties, are anti-inflammatory and help stimulate natural detoxifying enzymes.

Who would take Selenium-ACE with VitaBerry Plus? 

- Every adult in the UK in view of the fact that selenium soil levels in most parts of this country are low. In particular:
- Those who wish to maintain a healthy immune system.
-Sports people, as higher energy requirements may increase the need for antioxidant protection.