MSM Dietary Supplement Facts with Lots of Health Benefits

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Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a biological sulfur found in most of our food, soil, and in all plants. It is a form of organic sulfur that is in all living organisms. This organic form of sulfur is biologically active and is known to have a remarkable amount of preventative, healing and therapeutic uses. Sulfur is a mineral that is on the top 10 lists of the most abundant minerals in the body. Almost half of the sulfur in the body is contained in muscular tissue. The other half is accounted for in the hair, skin, bones, and brain. MSM has no known toxic effect. If you ever took what would be thought of as too much, the additional MSM that you do not utilize becomes obsolete, basically waste, and passes through your system through the elimination process. There have been no known cases of an MSM overdose.

So What Benefits Does MSM Have?
MSM has been known to reduce swelling, inflammation and pain. It has the ability to aid in intra-cellular flow, due to itʼs ability to make the walls of the cells more permeable. This allows macro and micro nutrients to pass through the cell walls, while allowing waste to flow out. MSM may help in supplying our bodies the adequate amount of sulfur needed by the body to help in the binding of protein molecules together. This process is essential in the metabolism of fat, efficiency in immune function, energy production, health of the kidneys, brain, heart, and the central nervous system. MSM also aids in detoxification. MSM has the ability to break down many organic and inorganic compounds. It reacts with various toxins, renders them harmless and speeds up excretion. Since MSM has the ability to make the walls of the cell more permeable, the ability to take up nutrients and eliminate waste products is an effective and efficient process. It also helps create anti-oxidant amino acids that are responsible in removing toxins from the liver. Among these amazing attributes, it also may help assist in developing healthy ligament, tendon, heart valves, connective tissue, skin and hair.

There has also been research which indicates that sulfur may have the most important positive effect on the metabolism of carbohydrates. This can be a helpful source in diabetic patients searching for alternative, less intrusive methods than prescribed, and help them gain a better quality of life. This option can also be applied for the hypoglycemic person.

Sulfur is a component of insulin (a very significant one). Insulin is a protein hormone that is secreted by the pancreas and is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates. An inadequate consumption of nutritional sulfur in your diet will result in lower insulin levels.

On the flip side, when your diet has adequate amounts of sulfur, you may increase your bodyʼs ability to naturally produce insulin, even to the point that you may have a need of decreased insulin injections due to the healing and positive effects.

One thing I find very interesting is that MSM, or sulfur, has a very important role in tissue breathing. What this means is that MSM plays an important role in the process where oxygen and other substances are utilized to build cells and release energy.

MSM is a part of the amino acid chain. With inadequate amounts of MSM, the aminos will continue to build the glands, but will fall short in producing the correct enzymes. And thus, opens us up to illnesses.

msm-dietary-supplement-1MSM detoxifies the body and increases circulation. This hinders countless negative effects. If you start with a dose of 1,000 MG of MSM taken with Vitamin C at 500 MG, gradually increasing your dose up to 3,000 MG taken with the Vitamin C, you unleash the many amazing benefits of MSM.

In regards to pain, be it chronic, joint, or just about any type of pain, adequate amounts of MSM taken daily has shown to alleviate the pain. Most of the pain we suffer with comes from soft tissue. We can take things to alleviate the pain, but the muscles are still damaged. The things we take to give ourselves relief from the pain are just temporary, short-lived aids. When there is pain, there is usually inflammation, among other things. MSM removes the inflammation and allows muscles to heal.

Athletically speaking, it can aid and helps in the prevention of making muscles sore. If you are a diehard gym rat, or just train hard and normally suffer sore muscles, you can take 1/2 teaspoon or 4 capsules of MSM prior to exercise and you should notice a difference. You may also take some after exercise, facilitating the soreness to alleviate faster.

MSM helps to control acid buildup in the stomach, so it may help with ulcers. Ulcers can be caused by excessive stress. This miracle sulfur based mineral can reduce stress amounts. It has been studied, researched and proven that MSM has a calming effect on the body and mind. Many people first starting MSM may notice this effect. It becomes less noticeable after some time. Not because it no longer has the effect, but our system has grown accustomed to this new feeling of MSM. If you find you need additional help in keeping a stress free and calm mind, search for practical exercises like breathing, meditation, or yoga. Stress is a hard one. It is something we must learn how to manage, and actively find ways to reduce the amount of stress in our lives. No amount of this miracle MSM can magically make your stress vanish. It will take some effort, change of lifestyle, mentality, and how we react in order to manage and control overall stress levels. Stress is serious since it hinders fat loss, causes anxiety, lack of sleep, and even death.

Many athletes, or fitness enthusiasts take MSM. The reasons are simple and if you are into fitness, this little section may intrigue you enough to run out and grab yourself a bottle. The athletic individual can benefit from MSM in so many ways. First, its anti-inflammatory properties help prevent and help with the healing process that occurs after training. It also helps you recover faster, and improve joint health. Also, since MSM increases the permeability of the cells walls, which facilitates better absorption of nutrients and better elimination of intra-cellular waste, it gives you a better running and more efficient system that can be without deficiencies (due to the absorption capabilities). As mentioned before, it also helps relieve pain and eliminates the toxins that are built up during strenuous exercise. During an intense training session, free radicals are released throughout your system and your immune system takes a decline. MSM can help reduce the negative effects that may arise from this process. It also aids in energy and endurance by assisting in glucose uptake. This creates available energy and endurance as an insulin component.

MSM can provide relief from the symptoms of lung dysfunction. It can enhance mood. It may help the arthritic patient in several ways (pain and stiffness relief, reduced inflammation and a possibility of blood normalcy). It also reduces hypertension and refines the immune system.

Something Everyone Should Note
MSM helps our body absorb more nutrients. This is due to the effect it has on the cell wall and making it more permeable. However, MSM has the ability to lock with co-enzyme 10 as well as other vitamins, acids, and minerals. This means that in order for our bodies to fully utilize both nutrients, MSM must be taken with these vitamins. Some are as follows:

  • Pantothenic acid
  • Vitamins A, D, and E
  • Inter-enzymes
  • Amino Acids
  • Calcium
  • Collagnol
  • Dismuzyme
  • Selenium

Taking the above listed vitamins, minerals and acids with MSM helps to make them more effective and better utilized. This list is not complete and I suggest doing additional research. However, it may just be wise to start taking MSM. If you are not taking any now, you will instantly benefit from even the smallest addition. I feel impressed to note that most of the vitamins you consume go right through your system without you gaining the full benefit, and complete utilization. This is a huge waste of money, as well as time and effort. If you add more MSM to your supplement plan then these vitamins will be used more effectively and in return become more beneficial and you will be on your way to better health, in a very natural non-toxic way.

To go just a little deeper, MSM can make the effectiveness of these vitamins and nutrients much more efficient. As mentioned before, many supplements, enzymes, vitamins and acids should be taken with MSM to unlock the full benefits of these natural supplements. But in addition to this, taking MSM with 500 MG of vitamin C has additional benefits. MSM provides cellular uptake of these nutrients and prolongs their lives. Taking MSM with vitamin c makes it more effective. These two supplements work synergistically to provide additional support needed for optimal health.

msm-dietary-supplement-2MSM is an amazing antioxidant. This form of organic sulfur is a free radical scavenger. Free radicals are unstable molecules and wreak havoc on your system. Believe it or not, free radicals are not all harmful and life without them would be impossible. They are needed for cellular energy production. The liver creates these free radicals during the breakdown of harmful substances. The bodyʼs immune system will use free radicals to kill bacteria and viruses. Our body houses anti-oxidants which bind and deactivate free radicals. The normal production of free radicals in a fit healthy adult is harmless, but an overproduction of these free radicals can become very harmful. Barry Halliwell of the University of Singapore of reactive oxygen species stated, “You can not live without them, nor should you wish too, but they will probably kill you in the end”. He continued, “Learning how to stop the latter while preserving the useful functions of reactive oxygen species should be a major research priority in the next few years”.

To sum up what the above means, at least to me, is that stressing your body under the right circumstances and a little run though a gauntlet may leave you with small bruises, but if the up side is that you will end up stronger for it, with a better ability to heal, and enjoy more of life then it is worth that small amount of time that you may compromise your system as long as you do what you can and should to help the repairing, restoring, and healing process.

As a grand finale, I will list the many benefits of MSM. Also start with 1000 MG twice a day. After a week or two, go up to 3,000 MG per day. Take 500 MG of vitamin C with each dose. This makes it more effective and efficient.

Here Are The Amazing Benefits of MSM:

  • Potent detoxifier
  • Strong anti-oxidant
  • Helps healing
  • Helps with glucose uptake
  • Helps joints
  • Helps to be more aware and alert
  • Help manage stress
  • Makes skin radiant
  • Helps hair grow and makes hair healthier
  • Helps with muscle ache (especially after long workouts)
  • Helps with scars (make sure you take wit Vitamin C)
  • Helps lower back pain
  • Helps with cramps
  • Helps make other supplements more effective
  • Helps with energy
  • Is a muscle relaxant
  • Helps with PMS
  • Helps with inflammation
  • Helps with hangovers and withdrawals
  • Helps with diabetes (due to the uptake and metabolism of glucose)
  • Helps with constipation
  • And this is not a complete list!

I know I have mentioned this previously, but I will mention it again. Although MSM is a part of the sulfur family, it is not similar to sulfa drugs. It does not have the same contraindications, or allergic reactions. However, please be aware that it may cause gas and nausea in some individuals. This is a very safe anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory that works great in any detox program and it is found in quite a few joint formulas. I have taken it for over three years and I can honestly say my hair has never grown longer, my health has improved and for someone who runs anywhere from 35 to 65 miles a week, plus the spin bike and full leg exercises, my knees have given me less trouble than in my 20ʼs. I will be 40 this year and I’m very proud!

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not in any way meant to diagnose, or provide medical advice. Please seek the advice of your doctor before starting any regimen or if you think there is something wrong.

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About Author

I'm a ISSA certified fitness trainer, specialist in performance nutrition, fitness therapy and youth fitness. I continue to educate myself on the topics of health and fitness. This industry is ever changing and new discoveries are made constantly. I have such a love for this field, and also helping people better their lives! See my profile page for more information.

7 Comments

  1. Hi, I just read your above article on MSM and need to tell you that it is very wrong regarding one thing.. Side Effects. MSM makes me so intensely nauseated and causes my stomach to nearly burst from gas and bloat. It is 100% caused by the MSM and these effects come on just after I have it every single time. It makes no difference if I have it with food, without food, lots of water etc etc. It is the same reaction every time I have it. So please don’t say that is causes NO gas and include the nausea that many people also experience. Thank you

  2. I broke out in a red rash under my arms around the bra line. This happened within 3 or 4 days after taking 1,500 mg once a day in the morning.

  3. MSM made me gain weight and I took it for several months at a very high dose and my boobs got huge! I had to stop taking it so I would stop gaining weight.

  4. One of the supplements I was told to take when I had mercury poisoning (confirmed) was MSM. The sulfur will help rid the body of many heavy toxic elements like cadmium, cobalt, etc. The sulfur reacts with heavy metals and allows the body to get rid of them. These heavy metals are monsters because they inhibit the body from making vital enzymes which control metabolism and the immune system. It’s true that MSM may cause stomach distress, but take it with food and adjust the dosage down if necessary. Please do your research on the the above statement and realize that our bodies are full of heavy metal contaminates and need some way to help rid ourselves of their effects. Good luck to you all!

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