Sulfur

Sulfur is necessary for people to have good health, and sulfur actually makes up about .25% of our total body weight. Most of this sulfur weight is found in proteins within the body, and sulfur is also found in four amino acids. Sulfur is found in keratin, which is present in hair, skin and nails of humans. One of the most notable facts about sulfur is that it is the sulfur in hair that gives it the predominant odor when burned. Since hair, skin and nails contain sulfur, it is important to maintain sulfur intake for skin health and to maintain sulfur intake for hair health.

Aside from hair and nail health, there are many other sulfur benefits to be had as well. Sulfur assists in the synthesis of protein, and it also helps create collagen. Sulfur facts show that it also helps in the production of insulin and a variety of other types of enzyme reactions. There is no recommended daily allowance of sulfur, but it is thought that about 850 mg is the best amount to achieve each day. There are many foods that contain sulfur so it is rare that a sulfur deficiency will occur. Likewise, an overabundance of sulfur foods is not typically cause for concern. Sulfur in excess or in deficient amounts is not known to cause many problems.

There are many sulfur containing foods, and one of the most predominant are protein-rich foods such as meats, fish and poultry. Eggs, legumes, egg yolks, and milk are all excellent sources of sulfur as well. Cabbage, onions and garlic are also all excellent sources of sulfur. Typically, the only time a sulfur deficiency will occur is when someone is a vegetarian, but even then the sulfur deficiency typically only occurs in conjunction with a protein deficiency, which is the more dangerous of the two. It is hard to differentiate between the two, and they may go hand in hand due to most sources of sulfur being protein sources as well.

Additional benefit studies have been done on sulfur, and there are many other benefits to be had by this mineral. Some of the added benefits of sulfur can include reducing muscle spasms, relieving pain, and more. Since sulfur exists in the many amino acids that make up protein, and most people reach their sulfur needs through diet, sulfur is not typically listed on nutritional information of foods. Likewise, there aren’t any specific sulfur supplements available, like there are with other vitamins and minerals.