Silicon is the most abundant element on planet Earth, with the exception of oxygen. Its total amount in the human body is usually 6-7 grams. Silicon is responsible for the normal functioning of epithelial and connective tissues, as well as other important functions. So what foods contain this element?
What is silicon for?
The daily human need for silicon, according to doctors, is about 20-30 mg, and experts have not established the exact upper threshold for its consumption, although there are also known cases of overdose of the body with this element. Silicon supplements and foods are commonly recommended for fractures, osteoporosis, and various forms of neurological disorders.
Silicon also ensures the normal course of fat exchange processes in the body, since its presence on the walls of blood vessels affects the degree of penetration of fats into the blood plasma and prevents their deposition. This element also participates in the process of bone formation and collagen synthesis.
This element is capable of exerting a vasodilating effect, that is, to affect the level of blood pressure. It is silicon that can stimulate immunity and maintain the elasticity of the skin. The degree of its digestibility is not precisely determined, but it is known that silicon interacts with iron and calcium.
Silicon Products
The list of foods high in silicon contains the following:
- barley groats (about 550-600 mg per 100 grams);
- buckwheat (120 mg);
- various types of beans (approximately 92 mg per 100 grams);
- honeysuckle (85-90 mg);
- peas (about 80-83 mg per 100 grams);
- lentils (75-80 mg);
- corn (55-60 mg);
- pistachios (45-50 mg per 100 grams of product);
- wheat (45-48 mg per 100 grams);
- oatmeal (40-43 mg).
Usually, doctors advise to pay special attention to these products in cases of increased fragility of bones and hair sections, increased sensitivity of the body to weather changes, in case of prolonged healing of wounds, deterioration of the patient's mental health, with decreased appetite, skin itching, decreased elasticity of tissues and skin, as well as with a tendency to bruising, hemorrhage and increased permeability of blood vessels.
Not the most pleasant consequence of the lack of silicon in the body is silicosis anemia. But there are unfavorable consequences for an overabundance of this element, which can lead to the active formation of urinary stones and an imbalance of other trace elements: phosphorus and calcium.
It is also necessary to remember that when buying any of the above products, you need to pay attention to the degree of their processing, since the modern method of refining food (or disposing of food from ballasts) can significantly reduce the amount of silicon in it, which simply ends up in production waste. Negatively affects the decrease in silicon content and the use of food products together with chlorinated water and milk-containing products saturated with radionucleides.
