Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — selenium deficiency

Environmental pollutants are in the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink — and in excess, they can profoundly disrupt thyroid hormone synthesis and action. This article explains how iodine and selenium deficiencies develop, how antagonists like bromine, arsenic and mercury exacerbate thyroid dysfunction, and why urine testing for these five elements can reveal the hidden environmental drivers of thyroid symptoms that standard blood tests miss.

What do heavy metals, neurotransmitters and hormone imbalances have in common? In this detailed case study, Dr. Kate Placzek examines Loretta — a 62-year-old postmenopausal woman with breast cancer — and shows how comprehensive testing can reveal the complex biochemical picture behind a cancer diagnosis. A compelling read for anyone interested in the role of hormones and toxic exposure in breast health.

Selenium is an essential trace element required for thyroid hormone activation, antioxidant defence and selenoprotein synthesis — yet it is one of the most commonly overlooked nutrients. Too little increases cancer risk; too much is toxic. This article explains the different forms of selenium found in food and supplements, which forms are best absorbed, their anti-cancer properties, and how to determine whether your selenium status is optimal.

Learn why the biological sample used for element testing — urine, whole blood, serum, hair, or nails — can dramatically change how toxic and essential mineral results are interpreted. Discover how different sample types reveal recent intake, long-term exposure, body burden, deficiency, or chronic toxicity for elements like mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, selenium, zinc, copper, iodine, and magnesium, and why choosing the correct testing method is critical for clinically meaningful results.