APEX Legacy · a way of life

Brazil Nuts

Large, creamy nut with buttery, rich flavor. Just 1-2 Brazil nuts per day provides the entire recommended daily allowance of selenium (55-70μg). One nut provides approximately 68-91μg selenium. Also provides significant magnesium (16% DV/nut), vitamin E, copper, zinc, and healthy unsaturated fats including oleic acid.

Compiled by APEX Legacy from published research and documented food history, under the editorial direction of Jonathan Jackson, Founder. How we write and review these pages →

Why it is ours

Available at most grocery stores in nut aisles and bulk bins. Trader Joe's carries them affordably. Whole Foods bulk bins for freshest.

What it does

Selenium is a critical cofactor for 25 selenoproteins in the human body, including: glutathione peroxidase (primary cellular antioxidant enzyme), thioredoxin reductase (DNA repair and redox regulation), iodothyronine deiodinase (thyroid hormone conversion), and selenoprotein P (selenium transport to the brain). For Hashimoto's thyroiditis — one of the most common autoimmune conditions in women — selenium at 200μg/day has been shown in multiple RCTs to significantly reduce thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) — the marker of autoimmune thyroid attack. For prostate cancer: selenium is one of the few micronutrients with documented cancer-preventive evidence for prostate cancer in prospective studies. For male fertility: sperm motility and sperm DNA integrity both depend on adequate selenium — a major factor in male infertility. Two Brazil nuts per day is the most efficient and cost-effective selenium intervention available — no supplement required.

How it is cooked

Eat 1-2 per day as a snack. Add to trail mix. Blend into Brazil nut milk: blend 1/4 cup soaked Brazil nuts + 1 cup water + pinch of salt. Do NOT eat a whole bag — selenium toxicity (selenosis) occurs at 400μg/day sustained intake, which is 4-6 Brazil nuts per day consistently.

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