This post describes the connection between sulfur pathways and inflammation.

I describe the relationship between sulfur dysregulation and MCAS in this post. My sulfur cycle dysregulation stems from toxic mold injury, and I’ve been detoxing from toxic mold diligently for years. But periodically, I experience an increase in the symptoms of sulfur dysregulation and need to do a short-term low-sulfur diet to get it back under control.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Who is Betsy Leighton?

I’m a writer, blogger, and healer dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their innate peace and wholeness by healing nervous system dysregulation. My personal experience with chronic illness called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) shapes my work, and my content offers tools to empower those with chronic illness to improve their well-being and take charge of their health.

I created the Sacred Self-Healing Method and am a trained and certified Safe and Sound Protocol provider, an author, blogger, and A Course in Miracles Teacher. I hold a Master of Divinity in Spiritual Counseling and am a trained spiritual mentor, with certificates in sound healing, aromatherapy, nutrition, and Sacred Deathcare. I offer a self-study certificate program in the Sacred Self-Healing Method, provide spiritual counseling and coaching, courses, and supported subscriptions for the Safe and Sound Protocol.

What is MCAS?

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. It can cause severe, disabling symptoms every day, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis.

The common triggers for MCAS are infections, toxic exposures including mold exposure and EMFs, trauma, concussions, and stress.

MCAS often occurs with other chronic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Managing MCAS is challenging because many healthcare providers are unaware of it, and diagnostic tests can be unreliable. Treatments include antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers in the form of medications and supplements, along with avoiding triggers. Check out this post on managing MCAS.

What are sulfur pathways?

Sulfur pathways refer to the biological and chemical processes through which sulfur is transformed, cycled, and used by organisms and in the environment. These pathways are crucial in biogeochemistry, microbiology, and cellular metabolism.

As I describe in my latest book, some people experience sulfur dysregulation due to genetic factors, nutritional deficiencies, or toxins, including mycotoxins from mold. Sulfur metabolism impairment can be a significant contributor to histamine intolerance, and a unique connection exists between sulfur dysfunction and histamine intolerance.

The common foods and supplements that can often exacerbate sulfur intolerance are garlic, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), and MSM. These are healthy for most people, but for those whose sulfur pathways are already overwhelmed, they can worsen symptoms, such as inflammation.

One red flag for sulfur sensitivity is an intolerance to glutathione, a sulfur-based antioxidant. When your body cannot properly break down glutathione, a side effect is increased hydrogen sulfide production, especially in cases of SIBO.

A low sulfur diet solution

I had a slight flare-up of sulfur intolerance this week while solo backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail. I describe in my latest book how I systematically dealt with my sulfur intolerance and learned to control inflammation.

Those with sulfur cycle dysfunction can be overwhelmed by sulfur and unable to process it quickly enough. Sulfur overwhelm can manifest as SIBO, inflammation, pain (like from gout), headaches, temperature dysregulation, and excess mucus. Gout is a type of arthritis that causes joint pain, swelling, and inflammation, typically occurring when uric acid builds up in the body and forms needle-like crystals in the joints, soft tissues, and organs. These crystals cause the joints to swell and become inflamed. When gout occurs due to sulfur overaccumulation, it is believed to be related to either sulfur-containing foods making the body more acidic, decreased uric acid elimination caused by molybdenum and sulfur binding to copper in the kidneys, or both.

Temporarily stopping sulfur-rich foods can help reset your metabolism and bring your sulfur levels back into balance. A low-sulfur diet involves eliminating primarily eggs, garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables, grains, and supplements high in sulfur (NAC, MSM, glutathione, ALA, etc.), which tend to exacerbate sulfur issues.

The bucket theory

The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.

Know your typical symptom progression

Understanding your symptom progression during a flare is key to developing your rescue plan. This post discusses how to recognize symptom progression so you can be prepared to address them.

Get my free ebook, symptom log, and meal plan!

Want a tool to easily track your symptoms?

Sulfur and gout

When I tried the low-sulfur diet in 2023, I noticed improvement after about a week. My migraines and temperature dysregulation disappeared. I no longer had severe EMF sensitivity. My SIBO symptoms vanished. Joint pain, inflammation, and gout abated. And I was able to start exercising regularly after decades of painful joints.

When I added higher-sulfur foods back into my diet too quickly, I immediately experienced gout in almost all of my joints, so I backed off and resumed the lower-sulfur diet for a little longer. It took some trial and error with the low-sulfur diet to find a solution that worked for me. I had the best results when I avoided garlic and consumed eggs and oats only a few times a week.

For people like me who have trouble regulating sulfur, following a short-term low-sulfur diet every three months to keep your sulfur levels in check. I incorporated that advice into my MCAS maintenance plan, and that kept my SIBO symptoms away and helped me to manage my MCAS more effectively.

Sulfur in foods

When I inadvertently consume too many sulfur-heavy foods for too long I start to have problems.

Foods high in sulfur are typically rich in sulfur-containing amino acids (like cysteine and methionine), glucosinolates, or sulfates. These compounds support detoxification, antioxidant defense (via glutathione), and connective tissue health.

Top Food Sources of Sulfur

• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Cauliflower
• Bok choy
• Garlic
• Onions
• Shallots
• Leeks
• Chives
• Eggs (especially the yolk)
• Meat (beef, pork, chicken)
• Fish and shellfish (especially tuna, salmon, shrimp)
• Dairy (cheese, milk, yogurt)
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Soybeans
• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Eggs (again—they’re especially rich in cysteine and methionine)
• Spirulina and seaweed (sulfur-rich compounds and minerals)
• Mushrooms (some, like shiitake, contain sulfur compounds)
• Fruits like rhubarb and sour cherries

This week, the sour cherries on the tree in my yard ripened, and I harvested them and made a gluten-free cherry pie. One piece was enough to trigger increased inflammation, so I froze individual pie slices to enjoy sporadically over the next year and set about reducing my overall sulfur intake to compensate. I also started taking more Epsom salt baths.

Check out these circadian health tools!

I’m an affiliate with Bon Charge, a company that makes tools for circadian health, and you can receive 15% off your order with my coupon code BETSYL.

Bon Charge offers tools such as yellow– and red-tone blue-blocking glasses, red light therapy devices, PEMF mats, infrared saunas, and EMF-blocking products.

Sign up for the SSP!

I’ve found the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to be the most helpful bottom-up healing strategy if your nervous system has been overloaded with toxic exposures, including mold or non-native EMFs, chronic infections, concussions, stress, or trauma. The SSP is a passive listening therapy that helps heal nervous system dysregulation. Many people with MCAS and other chronic conditions have nervous system dysregulation stemming from infections, toxic exposures, concussions, and trauma. The SSP is an easy-to-use app that lets you listen to specially filtered music for 30 minutes each day as part of a 5-hour cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions. Here’s a short podcast describing the Safe and Sound Protocol.

You can sign up for the SSP here!

Heal your mind!

While the SSP is a bottom-up, somatic therapy for healing the nervous system, the Sacred Self-Healing Method I offer is a top-down nervous system-healing modality that focuses on cognition, attention, perception, and emotion, using the mind’s higher functions. The SSP and the Sacred Self-Healing Method complement each other and together produce lasting results. Here’s a short podcast on my self-healing practice.

I provide one-on-one in-person and remote chronic illness and caregiver coaching, as well as Sacred Self-Healing Sessions based on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, a proven, novel co-creative healing modality detailed in my Books.

Order my books!

Here’s a short podcast highlighting my five books.

My latest book, Living In The Light: Healing with Forgiveness, Sound, and Light, is all about the tools that have been most helpful for me to heal: forgiveness, sound, through nervous system retraining using the Safe and Sound Protocol, and light, through entraining my circadian rhythm with the energy of the sun. Living In The Light is available here!

Rocks and Roots chronicles my solo backpacking journey on the Superior Hiking Trail and my efforts to overcome nervous system dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome symptoms to complete the 328-mile hike successfully.

The Sacred Self-Healing Method ebook is available here and in most ebook retailers!

The Sacred Self-Healing Workbook is available for purchase here!

Betsy’s first book, Sacred Self-Healing: Finding Peace Through Forgiveness, is available here

Companion Recordings

The companion audio recordings of chants, guided meditations, and sound healing demonstrations that accompany the Sacred Self-Healing Method are available for free on my YouTube channel here

What do you think?

I’d love to have your reply below!

Disclaimer

The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure, or treatment.