A new theory as to why vitamin D production on the skin is more beneficial than supplemental vitamin D.

It seems that when we discuss the benefits of nutrients, it is all about the cations: calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium and the balance required.  Very seldom do we talk about the anions like carbonate, chloride, sulfate, and phosphate and the necessary negative charge balance.  It is believed in general that our food is rich enough in these mineral constituents that we get more than enough of these items.  Certainly we get enough phosphate, with the abundance in our food and soft drinks and chloride because it is used to treat our water supply and it is the negative ion in salt.

I ask you, do the things that we consider extremely beneficial to health have anything in common: garlic, onions, turmeric (curcumin), cumin, cabbage, hot spring baths, mud baths, soaks in Epson salts, and mineral water.  Typically they are all great sources for sulfur.  With garlic being especially high in sulfur, we find in garlic more than thirty compounds that contain sulfur.  During WWII, garlic was referred to as Russian penicillin.  The Russians did not have penicillin at the time and they used garlic to prevent infections in wounds.  Garlic when crushed allows two of the sulfur compounds to combine and form a new compound that is called allicin, a very useful antibiotic.

Dr. Stephannie Seneff, a senior scientist at MIT, has proposed several novel ideas about how important sulfur is to our health.  Interview with Dr. Mercola: one and one half  hours video with transcript available: “Could THIS be the hidden factor Behind Obesity, Heart Disease, and Chronic Fatigue” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/17/stephanie-seneff-on-sulfur.aspx

Article from Weston Price: “Sulfur Deficiency – A Possible Contributing Factor in Obesity Heart Disease, and Chronic Fatigue”  http://www.westonaprice.org/vitamins-and-minerals/sulfur-deficiency  Dr. Seneff is to present at Weston Price in November.

Summary

• Because of the multiple valence numbers of sulfur, -2 to +6, it is very versatile in supporting aerobic metabolism.
• Sulfate and carbonate in the blood maintain the negative charge requirements to provide an effective colloid for delivering oxygen and nutrients.
• Two mysterious molecules are discussed: cholesterol sulfate and vitamin D3 sulfate.  It is theorized that the benefit of production of vitamin D in the skin versus supplementation is in making vitamin D3 sulfate.  Muscle metabolism can become significantly jeopardized when cholesterol sulfate is low.
• Sulfur is key in protecting proteins in neurons and muscle cells from oxidative damage.
• Thin people with deficiency in cholesterol and sulfur are subject to a wide range of health problems.
• Modern practice in health and our food and water supply has conspired to reduce both cholesterol and sulfate.
• Throw away the sunscreen and eat more egg yellows.

My question to you is: Will the new markers for health be the ratio of cholesterol to cholesterol sulfate and 25(OH)D3 to 25(OH)D sulfate.  Given how long it takes for science to transfer into the art of the practice of medicine – in fifty years, maybe.   – Pandemic Survivor