Description
The MSM Story-One of Nature's Primary Sources of Organic Dietary Sulfur!
The human body requires a continuous supply of usable sulfur, and MSM is one of the primary organic sulfur-containing molecules for use by living organisms. From life's earliest beginnings, primitive marine organisms (blue-green algae and phytoplankton) have absorbed inorganic sulfur from ocean waters and produced organic sulfur molecules, primarily dimethyl sulfonium salts. These salts are released back into the sea, where they are converted to dimethyl sulfide, which readily evaporates, ending up in the upper atmosphere. Dimethyl sulfide is then oxidized by UV light, forming DMSO and MSM. The two compounds are delivered to land masses in rain water, and absorbed by plants. MSM is a stable end-product of this process, and thus serves as a primary source of sulfur in the food chain.
Though present on earth since before life appeared on dry land, and known to science since the 1950's, MSM has only recently been recognized as having importance in human nutrition.
Why the Human Body Needs MSM
MSM occurs naturally in the blood, body fluids and tissues. It is now believed that a minimum MSM concentration of 0.2 parts per million is necessary for the body to function normally. MSM may be the most easily absorbed and non-toxic source of nutritional sulfur occurring in nature.
Based on observations, ingestion of MSM by humans has the following beneficial effects:
• MSM supports maintenance of strong, healthy body tissues by donating sulfur for formation of sulfur tie-bars between connective tissue proteins.*
• MSM supports normal gastrointestinal function.*
• MSM improves the body's resistance to adverse physical stress.*
• MSM supports mental alertness and maintenance of healthy mood.*
• MSM promotes the body's processes that heal tissue.*
• MSM helps modify the physiologic response to allergens.*
• MSM supports normal lung function.*
• MSM supports normal relaxation of muscles.*
• MSM supports normal joint function.*
• MSM helps maintain healthy skin.*
Supplementation is Needed to Realize the Benefits of MSM
Widespread in nature, MSM is found in a variety of foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, raw milk, raw meat and raw fish. However, MSM is a volatile substance easily lost during cooking, pasteurization, food processing and storage. The average American diet thus supplies at best a marginal MSM intake, which may be inadequate to maintain the optimum MSM concentration in the body. The body's MSM concentration is also believed to decline with increasing age.
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