Comments on: It’s True: Brazil Nut Selenium & Radiation Poisoning Dangers

By: Meg

Meg — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:49:57 +0000

Is there any iodine in brazilnuts? Could it have radioactive iodine?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 17:14:16 +0000

In reply to Arthur D. Hall. Yes, it happened same thing with me already second time. Lesson learned no more Brazilian nuts.

By: Paulo

Paulo — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 08:20:46 +0000

I bought a beg of organic Brazil nuts of 225 g. I have been eating a few a day, 5 or 6 but to finish the beg last night I ate about 15 to 20 and then I started reading about it online. I do not have the garlic breath but do have sweat and some nervous feeling in my body. Should I visit the doctor about it?

By: don

don — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 19:33:44 +0000

I’d be careful thinking there is 500 mcg / oz in Brazil nuts. I’ve seen studies where the variance is very, very wide. It all depends on the soil it’s grown in. Some Brazil nuts have 15 mcg/nut and others 250 mcg/nut. In many of the studies, toxic effects really occur around 800 mcg, but a margin of safety was added to get to 400.

So, going through a whole bag may only marginally correct a deficiency or could potentially put you in the hospital, depending upon the bad. I myself once ate way, way too many. It has a tri-phase half life in the body, with the longer phases being 100 days or so. So it might take a while for symptoms to show up and would also take a while for them to go away.

There’s really no antidote but there are a few things that might be worth a try. If you have a problem, you’ll need lots of protein. Selenomethionine is metabolized just like methionine, and it also forms complexes with the other sulfur amino, Cysteine. It’s main mode of excretion is through methylation. You’ll notice garlic breath and may have a wide tongue as you breath it out. It’s mainly excreted through urine at lower intakes but at higher intakes, you’ll get some out through feces, breath and potentially sweat (but I’m uncertain about this last one).

So 200 grams of protein a day and a few grams of TMG (betaine – a methyldonor) may help, but ymmv.

Sorry to write a paper but this could be important information to some.

Cheers,
Don

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 23:52:29 +0000

In reply to Arthur D. Hall. That sounds like an allergic reaction. How would the FDA have helped in your situation? Your solution is to give more power to the agency that approved aspartame? Read some books.

By: Arthur D. Hall

Arthur D. Hall — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 16:06:55 +0000

At Christmas there was a large bowl of mixed nuts. I ate about 10 Brazil nuts, My throat nearly swelled shut and I nearly died. I see bags full of them in the store. This is known and there are no warnings. This article even says as much. There is too much disrespect for consumers and not enough oversight. This is a perfect example of why FDA and EPA should be serious and expanded.

By: blueberre

blueberre — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 15:07:12 +0000

Also consider that Brazil Nuts only have as much Selenium in them as the soil they were grown in has. Selenium content of soils vary greatly and it seems to be reducing world wide.

By: Dave Clark

Dave Clark — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 21:56:19 +0000

How many foods we eat have similar amounts of radiation? That list is only a fraction of what is consumed in our diets. To stop eating brazil nuts because of this list would be ridiculous since we would need to see a comprehensive list of all other foods we eat and their radiation levels, and then we would probably find out there are many other foods to avoid rather than selenium. I also believe that the selenium toxicity thing is overdone. Selenium is cancer protective, we need a good amount in our diet, and I don’t believe the average person gets 100mcg/day in their diet, even if they do, they still could use a 200mcg/dday supplement!

By: Rosemary

Rosemary — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 06:23:05 +0000

Have suspected selenium toxicity due to eating too

By: Superfoodly

Superfoodly — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 04:59:09 +0000

In reply to Danielle Ryckman. Do not be concerned, compare the radiation exposure to flying as shown above (one nut is 60% more than the 2 squares you see for banana). What you ate sounds to be the equivalent of a few coast to coast flights. Any radiation has been excreted, assuming you haven't ate any for a few days.