(10-11-11) Sulfur is an important nutrient for optimal health

by Dr. David Jockers

(NaturalNews) Sulfur is a mineral that is present in every cell of the body.
It plays a key role in liver metabolism and the function of the joint cartilage
and keratin of the skin & hair. It is also critical for metabolism and anti-
oxidant defense systems that protect the aging patterns of the brain. Some of
the healthiest cultures in the world have the highest levels of sulfur in their
diet while the US has some of the lowest levels.

Icelanders are known for their low rates of depression, obesity, diabetes, and
heart disease. Researchers are attributing much of this to the line of
volcanoes that formed the island nation. These volcanoes are full of sulfur
ash, which blankets the soil after an eruption. This enriches the ground and
makes drinking water, produce, and meat products contain a dense supply of
sulfur.

Modern farming depletes sulfur
Over the last 2 decades, the US farming industry has shifted into highly
technologized mega farms. These farms are entirely focused on producing high
yield per acre, and thus they have depleted many vital nutrients such as sulfur
from the ground. These farmers also apply artificial fertilizers to the soil.
These fertilizers are enriched in phosphates and very low in sulfur. These
excess phosphates interfere with sulfur absorption.

Sulfur amino acids are extremely important for the maintenance and integrity
of the cellular systems. They strongly influence the ability to manufacture
glutathione and the capacity to neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen
species and to detoxify poisonous compounds. Could your diet be deficient in
these critical amino acids?

There are 2 sulfur containing amino acids: cysteine and methionine. They are
not stored in the body. Any dietary surplus is oxidized to sulfate and excreted
in the urine or is stored as glutathione (GSH). Glutathione is one of the
body's most important anti-oxidants. Lowered GSH levels are associated with
degenerative disease, lowered immunity, & toxic build-up. Cysteine levels
appear to be the rate limiting factor for the synthesis of GSH.

The internal triage system of the body typically spares the brain since it is
the most critical organ. However, in cases of low sulfur containing amino acids
the brain will deplete its stores of GSH in order to maintain cysteine levels.
This reduces the brain's antioxidant defenses and accelerates the degenerative
processes.

Sulfur plays a very important role in joint, cartilage, skin & blood vessel
formation through the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) compounds. Some of the familiar
GAG compounds include glucosamine, heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate.
When sulfur levels are depleted, the body is unable to replace the old and
inferior GAG molecules in the joints. With inadequate repair materials the
joints, blood vessels, & skin cells suffer and degenerate faster.

Sulfation is a critical detoxification pathway in the liver. This is
particularly necessary to detoxify pharmaceutical drugs. The sulfation process
of detoxification depletes the body of sulfur containing amino acids. This is
why individuals taking pharmaceutical medications need even more dietary
sulfur.

The Best Food Sources of Sulfur
The best plant foods for sulfur are found in the Allium family, which is high
in allyl sulfides and sulfoxides. These include onions, garlic, leeks,
shallots, & chives. The cruciferous vegetable family has sulfur containing
isothiocyanates that are potent cancer fighters. These foods include broccoli,
cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, radishes, watercress, kale, & collard
greens.

Animal foods rich in sulfur containing amino acids include organic eggs, wild-
caught fish, & grass-fed beef. Raw dairy from grass-fed cows (particularly
sulfur rich grass) is a great source of sulfur containing amino acids. Non-
denatured whey protein from grass-fed cows is the richest source of sulfur
containing amino acids.

Sources For This Article Include:
http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.c...
http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/...
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/conte...

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