Sulfate Sources and Functions
All of the nutrient minerals work together to keep you healthy and feeling good. Here is a summary of the role of sulfate, a major mineral, in your good health.
What it does | Forms part of protein structures; part of biotin, thiamin and insulin |
Daily needs | None established |
Not enough | Unlikely to occur except in the case of protein deficiency |
Too Much | No known toxicity effects |
Foods | Protein foods such as, meats, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, nuts, legumes |
Sulfur in foods
Sulfate is the form of the element sulfur that is found in foods. The main function of sulfate is to stabilize protein structures, but it is also an element in the B vitamins, biotin and thiamin, as well as a component of the hormone, insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas to control your blood sugar level.
Deficiency unlikely
Unless you are suffering from protein deficiency, it is unlikely that you are deficient in sulfates. Skin, nails and hair have a high sulfur content, since the sulfate is required for the rigidity of the proteins found in these areas of the body.
Egg Quality
What about the quality of the eggs you are eating? The shell should be thick and not break easily. If it crushes easily, the chicken that it came from was not fed a healthy diet (probably from a chicken factory). Consider buying cage-free eggs or organic eggs. The extra expense is worth it for both taste and quality. If you buy a cage-free or organic egg and it doesn’t pass the “shell test” or taste better, consider a different brand.
Don’t shy away from brown eggs, they are just from different colored chickens!
What about Vegetarians and Vegans?
Lacto-ovo vegetarians (avoid meat but include eggs and dairy products) still can get plenty of sulfur in their diet. Even vegans (those who avoid all animal products) can get enough of this important mineral in their diet, since nuts and legumes are good sources.
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