- Sulfur-containing foods
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Onion and garlic
- Eggs
- Dairy products
- Protein foods
- References
Some of the foods with sulfur content are vegetables, onion, garlic, eggs and protein foods such as meat or some nuts. Sulfur is a chemical element whose symbol is S. Although it can be found in its original state, it is generally found in the form of sulfur and sulfate in volcanic craters and hot springs.
Currently, this chemical element is obtained in its elemental form as a by-product of its elimination in natural gas and oil. But in addition, sulfur has an important presence in food. Therefore, it is found naturally in plants, including grains, fruits and vegetables.
Sulfur is part of the chemical structure of the amino acids methionine, cysteine, taurine, and glutathione. These amino acids are the building blocks of protein, making sulfur an extremely important component in daily health.
Sulfur-containing foods
Sulfur is present in keratin, so it is necessary for proper connective tissue development and helps maintain the structural integrity of the skin.
In addition to being part of the protein amino acids, it is responsible for metabolic processes and the creation of muscle. It is found in all body tissue, as it is the protein necessary to synthesize collagen, which gives the skin its body integrity.
Cruciferous vegetables
Of the Brassicaceae family, they are all those cultivable species that are used for food. Among them we find:
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Watercress
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Similar green leafy vegetables
During the preparation of these foods, their chewing and digestion, glucosinolates are broken down into indoles and isothiocyanates.
These compounds are being associated by the National Cancer Institute with possible effects against lung, prostate or breast cancer, to name a few.
Onion and garlic
Natural garlic and garlic grown with selenium fertilization have been shown through tests on laboratory animals to have protective roles in cancer prevention.
Allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions, leeks, and chives, contain organic compounds that include sulfur.
An article published in Environmental Health Perspectives in September 2001, noted that the presence of organosulfur compounds in these foods appears to inhibit cancer formation.
The study suggests that the vegetable allium and organosulfide compounds are potential cancer-preventive agents for humans, although additional clinical trials are required.
Eggs
Eggs are not only a rich source of protein, they are high in sulfur. Each egg yolk contains 0.016 milligrams of sulfur, and the white contains 0.195 milligrams.
However, egg yolks contain cholesterol in the diet, which has been linked to increased levels of cholesterol in the blood.
The University of Michigan Health System recommends limiting egg consumption to one per day, with the exception of people with high cholesterol who should eat no more than four eggs per week.
Dairy products
Dairy products are a type of food that contains the milk of mammals. Dairy products include foods like yogurt, cheese, and butter.
Protein foods
Foods like meats and nuts have a high protein value.
Beef, fish, chicken and pork are high protein sources with the presence of cysteine and methionine, amino acids that contain sulfur.
Also walnuts, almonds and cashews, as well as certain seeds, such as sesame seeds and sunflower seeds, contain sulfur.
References
- Phyllis A. Balch. (1990). Prescription for Nutritional Healing. New York: Avery Pub Group.
- Dr. Joseph Mercola. (2016). Sulfur Does Your Body Good. 2017, from Mercola Website: articles.mercola.com
- Jane V. Higdon, Barbara Delage, David E. Williams, Roderick H. Dashwood. (2007). Cruciferous Vegetables and Human Cancer Risk: Epidemiologic Evidence and Mechanistic Basis. 2017, from US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health Search database Website: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- MAS Van Duyn, E. Pivonka. (2000). Overview of the Health Benefits of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption for the Dietetics Professional: Selected Literature. 2017, from ScienceDirect Website: sciencedirect.com
- HE Ganther. (1992). Comparison of selenium and sulfur analogs in cancer prevention. 2017, from Carcinogenesis Oxford Academy Website: academic.oup.com
- Abigail Adams. (2016). List Of Foods That Contain Sulfur. 2017 by Jillian Michaels Website: livewell.jillianmichaels.com.