Sulfur deficiency and chronic health complications

March 27, 2015

Sulfur deficiency and chronic health complications: The worrying trend of obesity

Sulfur Deficiency and Chronic Health complications. Corrective measures can be sought from healthy food stuff

Obesity is quickly becoming the number one health issue confronting most people across U.S. and has also risen to epidemic proportions worldwide. The rapid spread of obesity is closely linked to the embracement of western diet. has been associated with the adoption of a Western-style diet. It is no wonder that the widespread consumption of food imports produced by most of the U.S. companies contributes significantly to the increase of obesity globally. The foods we are referring to are often called fast foods and they may include comprehensively processed derivatives of corn, soybeans, and grains, grown on highly efficient mega-farms. Besides one of the core underlying causes of obesity may be sulfur deficiency and that is why we want to interrogate this topic of sulfur deficiency and chronic health complications.

Sulfur is the eighth most common element by mass in the human body after oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. The two sulfur containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine, play essential physiological roles throughout the body. However, sulfur has been consistently overlooked in addressing the issues of nutritional deficiencies. In fact, the American Food and Drug Administration have not even assigned a minimum daily requirement (MDR) for sulfur. One consequence of sulfur’s limbo nutritional status is that it is omitted from the long list of supplements that are commonly artificially added to popular foods like cereal.

Sulfur Deficiency and Chronic Health complications: Ideal sources of Sulfur

Sulfur is found in a large number of foods, and, as a consequence, it is assumed that almost any diet would meet the minimum daily requirements. Excellent sources are eggs, onions, garlic, and leafy dark green vegetables like kale and broccoli. Meats, nuts, and seafood also contain sulfur. Methionine, an essential amino acid, in that we are unable to synthesize it ourselves, is found mainly in egg whites and fish. A diet high in grains like bread and cereal is likely to be deficient in sulfur. Increasingly, whole foods such as corn and soybeans are disassembled into component parts with chemical names, and then reassembled into heavily processed foods. Sulfur is lost along the way, and there is a lack of awareness that this matters.

Experts have recently become aware that sulfur depletion in the soil creates a serious deficiency for plants brought about in part by improved efficiency in farming and in part, ironically, by successful attempts to clean up air pollution. Over the last two decades, the U.S. farming industry has steadily consolidated into highly technologized mega farms. The high yield per acre associated with these farms results in greater depletion of sulfur each year by the tall, densely planted crops. Plants require sulfur in the form of the sulfate radical (SO₄^-2). Bacteria in well aerated soil, similar to nitrogen fixing bacteria, can convert elemental sulfur into sulfate through an oxidation process. Coal contains a significant amount of sulfur, and factories that burn coal for energy release sulfur dioxide into the air. Over time, sun exposure converts the sulfur dioxide to sulfate, a significant contributor to acid rain. Acid rain is a serious pollutant, in that hydrogen sulfate, a potent acid, penetrates lakes, making them too acidic for life forms to thrive. As for Americans the Clean Air Act, enacted by congress in 1980, has led to substantial decreases in the amount of acid rain released into the atmosphere. Factories have introduced highly effective scrubbing technologies to comply with the law, and, as a consequence, fewer sulfates make its way back into the soil.

Modern farmers apply highly concentrated fertilizer to their soil, but this fertilizer is typically enriched in phosphates and often contains no sulfur. Excess phosphates interfere with sulfur absorption. In the past, organic matter and plant residues remained after the fruit and grain were harvested. Such accumulating organic matter used to be a major source of recyclable sulfur. However, many modern machinery-based methods remove a great deal more of the organic matter in addition to the edible portions of the plant. So the sulfur in the decaying organic matter is also lost.

Sulfur Deficiency and Chronic Health complications: The simple sources of Sulfur

It is estimated that humans obtain about 10% of their sulfur supply from drinking water. Remarkably, people who drink soft water have an increased risk to heart disease compared to people who drink hard water. Many possible reasons have been suggested for why this might be true (Proposed theories for soft water/hard water differences in heart disease), and just about every trace metal has been considered as a possibility. However, I believe that the real reason may simply be that hard water is more likely to contain sulfur. The sulfate ion is the most useful form of sulfur for humans to ingest. Water softeners provide a convenient environment for sulfur-reducing bacteria, which convert sulfate (SO₄^-2) into sulfide (S^-2), emitting hydrogen sulfide gas.

Hydrogen sulfide gas is a poison that has been known to cause nausea, illness and in extreme cases, death may occur. When the bacteria are thriving, the gas will diffuse into the air and give off a foul odor. Obviously, it is rare that the concentration is sufficiently high to cause severe problems. But the sulfate ion is lost through the process. Water that is naturally soft, such as water collected from rain run-off, also contains little or no sulfur, because it has gone through an evaporation-condensation cycle, which leaves behind all the heavier molecules including sulfur.

Sulfur Deficiency and Chronic Health complications: The worrying trend of Obesity

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient

March 26, 2015

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient: How important it can be

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient has become one of the best solution for maintaining good health

It is amazing how good and important things can easily be forgotten about. We are costumed to forgetting or rather ignoring even things that are very essential to our good health and well-being. Before we get into the discussion of sulfur the less talk about nutrient, let me illustrate to us using tobacco smoking as one of those very harmful things to human health yet people are still very much into their usage. Despite the public awareness of the dangers of cigarette smoking and even the scary advert accompanying the packaging smokers are so much addicted to this harmful drug and smoke their life out of it. Now despite the knowledge we have about the importance of sulfur, this very important piece of nutrient is largely forgotten. I may not know what you are saying about this nutrient but the truth is that sulfur the less talk about nutrient is very essential. Sulfur is primarily responsible for the maintenance of health and even prevention of chronic illnesses such as Metabolic Syndrome. We (experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) once stated that prevention is better than cure, does this sound important to you? I guess it is because of the financial burden it will offload off your back. Nonetheless what is worrying is that despite its importance it very shocking to note that a Minimum Daily Requirement (MDR) to avoid sulfur deficiency does not even exists even though this mineral is the eighth most common element by mass in the human body.

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient: What makes nations with High Sulfur Intake to be very healthy?

Let us now look at the impact of sulfur in our societies and particularly in a wider perspective of nations. It has been established that some of the major world suppliers of sulfur like Greece, Italy and Japan enjoy some of the lowest rates of heart disease, obesity and increased longevity on the surface of the earth. And do you know why? Keep reading. For instance let us consider Icelanders remarkably low rates of depression, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease can possibly be attributed to the line of volcanoes that formed that island nation and whose eruptions periodically blanket the soil with sulfur containing volcanic rock.

Initially it was believed that the Icelandic diet was so protective against chronic illness due to a high intake of fish. Nonetheless this school of thought is still a subject of discussion. However, as for those Icelanders who migrated to Canada and continued with their habit of eating a lot of fish it was found out that they ceased from enjoying the same low rates of disease. Why? It appeared that the Icelandic soil which is unusually rich in sulfur may indeed play a pivotal role in the health and avoidance of sulfur deficiency of its residents. This is amazing indeed; it therefore explains why sulfur the less talk about nutrient should be re-looked into, if we want to be free from certain chronic complications.

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient: Sulfur’s Critical Role in the Body

Sulphur is very essential to many of the body’s biological processes, and metabolism is inclusive. Remember that without adequate sulfur, glucose metabolism becomes defective and muscle and fat cells are damaged as the result of becoming glucose intolerant. This is how sulfur deficiency can lead to all manner of skeletal and muscle disorders with corresponding pain and inflammation.

This impaired glucose metabolism resulting from insufficient sulfur is also implicated as a factor in obesity and the dangerous condition known as Metabolic Syndrome because one way the body compensates for defective glucose metabolism is by gaining weight. Therefore when sulfur deficiency occurs within the context of a low fat diet, the problem becomes more severe allowing more sources of glucose present in a low fat diet in the form of carbohydrates to be converted into fat and even worse released into the bloodstream as triglycerides as fuel for the damaged and inflamed muscle cells.

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient: Alzheimer’s disease and Sulfur Deficiency?

Experts while analyzing minerals present in the cells of the typical Alzheimer’s patient it was established that sulfur is almost nonexistent compared with a normal profile. Besides that some research findings has indicated that reversal of this deficiency state cannot only prevent or halt the progression of this horrible disease but even reverse it provided the patient is still in the early stages where little brain damage has occurred. This now leave many to wonder and probably you are too that could the skyrocketing cases of Alzheimer’s in recent years be related to the shunning of eggs, a very good source of sulfur, by older Americans and beyond?

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient: Sulfur Helps Mobilize Vitamin D from the Sun

When unprotected skin is exposed to the sun, the skin synthesizes vitamin D3 sulfate. While vitamin D is normally considered fat soluble, vitamin D3 sulfate is a form of the vitamin that is actually water soluble. This allows this type of vitamin D to travel freely in the blood stream. On a side note, the vitamin D3 in supplements is not the same vitamin D3 as what you get from the sun and should not be considered an adequate substitute. And remember that when the skin is exposed to sunlight it will produce large amounts of cholesterol sulfate. The sun, then, has the potential to provide sulfur to the body in the form of vitamin D3 sulfate and cholesterol sulfate.

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient: Make Sure You Get Enough to Avoid Sulfur Deficiency!

In conclusion doctor Akoury note that even though sulfur is basically ignored in nutritional circles, it is nonetheless a critical nutrient and one that is necessary for vibrant health and prevention of chronic health complications. She advises that despite sulfur nutrient being ignored, it is very essential and must never be insufficient in supply. Therefore the simplest way of obtaining sufficiency of sulfur is by getting frequent midday sunlight without the sunscreen. In doing this, it is important that the dose of sunlight must be friendly to the skin and with a non-burning effect.

Besides the non-burning sunlight, feeding more on eggs which is rich in sulfur than many plant foods such as onions, garlic, and cabbage whose sulfur contents is likely to be low unless the plants are grown in sulfur rich soil. It therefore means that not unless your produce comes from Iceland, relying on eggs for adequate sulfur is the decidedly better way to go.

Sulfur the less talk about Nutrient: How important it can be

The crucial role of Sulfur in health and glutathione

March 25, 2015

The crucial role of Sulfur in health and glutathione: Understanding the effectiveness of sulfur

The crucial role of Sulfur in health and glutathione must be taught across the board. indication of low sulfer include depression and fatigue.

In our daily effort in ensuring that our body is duly protected from the various attacks of the environment and other sources, the application of sulfur becomes very important. We all have a duty to keep healthy and that is why discussion about the crucial role of sulfur in health and glutathione becomes necessary. To start us off doctor Dalal Akoury a medical professional and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center brings us up to speed about certain benefits of sulfur. She says that sulfur plays an important role in the formation of proteins. These protein chains are held together by peptide (disulfide) bonds provided by sulfur amino acid cysteine. And because our bodies are held together with proteins in all the connective tissues, without sulfur we would literally turn into a splash of cells and spread over the floor. Not forgetting that enzymes which are proteins are charged with the regulation and enhancement of most biochemical processes in our bodies but for this to be done effectively, the supply of sulfur is very necessary that will also include the glutathione enzymes.

The crucial nature of sulfur is that it enables the collagen which is the main constituent of cartilage that keeps our joints working properly.

Sulfur is the main constituent of protein keratin that our hair, nails and skin are made of. Sulfur is what gives them their shape, flexibility and strength.

As for the beauty of the skin, sulfur is responsible for keeping the skin cells flexible and permeable, thereby enabling our skin to serve certain roles of the kidneys as many toxins exit the body with sweat.

Sulfur is one of the raw materials, alongside amino acids and vitamins, necessary to create healthy new cells with flexible walls. This flexibility allows fluids to flow freely through the tissues in response to changes in atmospheric pressure. This reduces cell inflammation and pain sensations.

Sulfur is a component of insulin. A diet rich in sulfur containing foods may enhance the body’s ability to produce insulin and lower the dependency on injections in diabetic patients.

Sulfur and MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) promote healthy digestive function by boosting digestive enzyme activity, building healthy lining tissue and promoting bowel activity.

Protein is the main structural component of myelin sheaths, the protective layer covering the nerves. Insufficient sulfur may cause demyelination to occur, especially in the presence of elevated oxidative stress or exposure to toxins that may trigger the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and peripheral neuropathy.

Sulfur is a component of vitamins B1 (thiamin), B5 (pantothenic acid that converts to coenzyme A) and B7 (biotin) required for the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and glucose.

Sulfur is required for manufacturing of alpha lipoic acid in the body, an important antioxidant and a glutathione cofactor that has been shown to elevate glutathione levels.

MSM, an endogenous cellular metabolite that acts as sulfur donor in many trans-methylation reactions, is also able to act as an antioxidant and free radical scavenger.

And last but not least – sulfur is a critically active component in the reduced (active) form of a glutathione molecule (GSH). Sulfur sulfhydryl group is represented by “SH” in the common abbreviation for glutathione (GSH). It is the sulfur containing amino acid cysteine, the most crucial building block for glutathione that contributes sulfur to it. At low levels of intake cysteine is preferentially incorporated into proteins rather than glutathione. Thus, the availability of cysteine determines how much glutathione and how fast a cell can produce in response to a threat.

Sulfur is also what is responsible for glutathione’s antioxidant and detoxifying powers – free radicals, toxins, heavy metals, etc. “stick” to sulfur to be eliminated from the body.

Organic sulfur as sulfur containing amino acids can also increase the
synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) in the body. SAMe is a form of methionine partially converted to cysteine that cells can use in the synthesis of glutathione. Synthetic SAMe is also a pharmaceutical drug that is used in the treatment of liver diseases and in Europe as a mood stabilizing medication.

The crucial role of Sulfur in health and glutathione: Methylsulfonylmethane

It was reported that MSM may also be used as a precursor for the synthesis of methionine and cysteine, and act as a source of sulfur which may induce new GSH synthesis. Methyl Sulfonyl Methane, better known as MSM, is a naturally occurring sulphur compound that may play a role in the synthesis of glutathione (GSH), one of the most important intracellular antioxidants, through its transulfuration pathway.

As we continue into the discussion, it is important to note that sulfur amino acid insufficiency compromises glutathione synthesis, to a greater extent than hepatic protein synthesis, in the presence and absence of an inflammatory stimulus. The resulting effect may be compromised antioxidant defenses. Functioning of T cells is dependent on intracellular glutathione concentrations and may also be affected by sulfur amino acid insufficiency. And finally on this is that part of MSM’s action is to improve your body’s ability to make its own antioxidants.

The crucial role of Sulfur in health and glutathione: Who may benefit from taking MSM supplement?

Vegetarians and vegans may be at high risk of sulfur deficiencies because of the lack of sulfur-rich animal foods in their diet and the normal processing of plant foods that destroys MSM, although cysteine and methionine are present in some plants. Those who favor these eating styles may benefit from taking MSM supplement.

People who do not consume sufficient amounts of sulfur rich foods and eat mostly processed foods will benefit from taking supplemental MSM.

MSM supplement may be beneficial to those on a protein restricted diet, for example due to kidney disease.

MSM has been used extensively to relieve arthritic pain, joint pain, back pain, migraines, skin conditions, allergies, autoimmune diseases, digestive issues, and to promote the healing of burns and scars. It may be beneficial for people with these health conditions.

Athletes, both professional and amateur, may find MSM supplement helpful in the process of healing sports related joint injuries and for faster recovery. Research also indicates that insufficient intakes of sulfur amino acids during training may promote inflammation.

MSM supplement may help maintain glutathione levels by improving alpha lipoic acid levels, by helping decrease inflammation and oxidative stress, by participating in the metabolism of cysteine and methionine, and by contributing the continuous supply of sulfur for many vital processes in the body. This supplement may be useful to those interested in optimizing their glutathione levels.

The crucial role of Sulfur in health and glutathione: Dosages for the MSM supplement

Finally for a typical maintenance dose of supplemental MSM is 1,000-3,000 mg a day. However the MSM supplements will always come in capsules and in powder form, the latter being more cost-efficient for larger doses. The effectiveness of a dose depends on the severity of a condition and the length of time the MSM supplement is taken. It may take up to 2 months of daily use to notice any health benefits. For further needs you may want to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today.

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