The selenium micronutrient belongs to the metalloids. 1957 it has been detected that it plays a vital role in the organism during the metabolism and that it is a substance protecting from diseases. It is designated as essential by scientists, which means, selenium must be provided by our food.

Selenium is an antioxidant as well as the vitamins A, C and E. Their task is it to ward off the toxic free radicals. These molecular complexes miss a part of an atom and try to tear this molecule out of healthy cells. So they can cause great damages on healthy cells. Natural substances as the selenium make the free radicals innocuous, by - simplified said - supplying the missing molecules without getting damaged. The main active substance in selenium is glutathion peroxidase, an enzyme which catches free radicals before they can cause disaster.