The Lowdown on Sulfur

Do you worry about your daily calorie intake? Your cholesterol? Vitamin C? What about sulfur? At this point you’re probably thinking, “Sulfur? Why would I ever worry about sulfur?”. You have probably given it very little thought; if at all. You may have associated it only with certain odors. You’re not alone!  Many people have no idea that our current modern diets are drastically lacking in sulfur. And yes, you should have sulfur in your body! It’s actually necessary! “Sulfate deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency you’ve never heard of,” says MIT Senior Research Scientist Stephanie Seneff, PhD.  Dr. Seneff’s research suggests that having sulfate deficiency in our diets is the major culprit behind many of our modern chronic diseases and health conditions. Unfortunately, it is one that is largely overlooked.

Using sulfur for better health is nothing new. Even during ancient times, people knew how useful and important sulfur is. The Egyption alchemist Zosimos of Panopolis touted the uses of sulfur and its cleansing properties. For centuries, it has been known that bathing in mineral hot springs rich in sulfur is beneficial and healing to the sick and afflicted. 

So, what is sulfur exactly? And why do we need it? Sulfur is a critical component of our body. It is both a major and necessary mineral. It is part of certain amino acids and helps with a great number of our bodily processes. Sulfur is needed to create the connective tissues that support the joints, such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments. When you think about how important our joints are, it becomes clear that a deficiency of sulfur could contribute to joint pain or disease. It may seem surprising, but sulfur is actually one of the most important minerals in the body. Our bodies most need calcium, phosphorus, and sulfur.

Sulfur is found in our muscles, skin, bones and even our hair. It maintains the elasticity of our skin, and its bonds help your muscles, skin and bones maintain their shape.  A crucial component of extracellular matrix proteins, sulfur plays a part in the detoxification of drugs, food additives, and toxic metals. It also prevents our blood from coagulating during transit through capillaries. 

How do we get sulfur in our diets?  It is most commonly found in cruciferous vegetables (e.g. cauliflower, broccoli, watercress), leafy greens, peas, onions, garlic, legumes, and whole grains. However, with the advent of chemical fertilizers being used in food production in the United States since the 1950s, the natural sulfur cycle has been disrupted. The sulfur that used to be abundant in our soil has tremendously decreased. Today, much of the food that we consume (even the “healthy” ones) are severely deficient in necessary minerals and nutrients. The absence of sulfur particularly in our bodies and the inability of the body’s cells to regenerate it, may be responsible for so many of the health challenges that we face today.

Hope is not lost though! Sulfur is available as a supplement that can easily be taken daily as part of our normal routines. Tasteless and odorless, methylsulfonylmethane powder (or MSM powder) can simply be added to a glass of water each morning with just a scoop and a stir.  MSM is considered safe and is generally well tolerated with minimal side effects, if any. Sulfur via MSM powder is a wonderful option for improving general health and reducing inflammation common with joint pain, arthritis, and stiffness. As always, check with your physician before adding any supplements to your diet. 

See for yourself. Try Sulfur Health risk free today!