Selenium is good - in moderation

Benjamin Franklin cautioned "All things in moderation," and vitamin and mineral intake is one of the things you should do in moderation.

While selenium is necessary, too much (over 400 micrograms daily) can cause selenium toxicity. Symptoms are hair loss, brittle nails, fatigue, rash, digestive upset, irritability and garlic odor on the breath. In addition, some individuals report muscle cramping.

For nut lovers, this can become a problem. Brazil nuts are high in selenium, and just a half dozen contain more than 500 micrograms.

Some vitamins, such as vitamin C, will flush out of your body if you get too much. Others, such as D & E can build up, causing a vitamin "overdose." So pay attention to the labels. Take the recommended daily requirement and don't double it for good measure!

If you begin having odd symptoms - such as headaches, muscle cramping, aching joints, etc. take a look at your diet. If you've been eating anything in excess - or anything not in your usual diet - do some research and see if you've been over dosing yourself on any vitamin or mineral.

In addition to overdose, don't rule out allergies. Since we're all different and since our bodies are continually changing, you could have an allergy you don't know about.

One clue is a sudden food craving - When your body develops an allergy and is no longer using a food properly, it can become "hungry" for the nutrients in that food - and that hunger will trigger cravings.

Our bodies are complex - but if we pay attention to the warning signs they give us we can often avoid unpleasant symptoms and ward off illness.