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Starter

The Hardest Job in the World ⛏️ 

Some jobs require a lot of muscles.

And some, a lot of brains.

But then there’s this job! 👇️ 

A job so hard it makes every other job look like a paid holiday. 🏝️ 

Imagine waking up at 2am.

Working 12-16 hours straight.

Breathing toxic fumes that burn your lungs.

Climbing in and out of an active volcano.

And doing it all for about $15 a day. 💵 

This is sulfur mining on Mount Ijen, Indonesia - arguably the hardest job on planet Earth.

With nothing but metal rods, bare hands, and woven baskets, miners break chunks of sulfur from steaming vents, load up to 100 kg, carry it out of the crater, and haul it down the mountain. 🌋 

They do this almost every single day, with just one day off a month.

Fully aware they’ll likely never live past 50.

All of it for the “Devil's Gold.” 🪙 

But what is sulfur, really?

And why do we even need it?

Let’s break it down. 👇

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Main Course

The Truth about Sulfur 🟡 

What is sulfur?

Sulfur is the bright yellow, egg-smelling element you’ve probably heard about in science class. 🔬 

But it’s also one of the most abundant elements on Earth, and your body literally can’t function without it.

Where can it be found?

Pretty much everywhere!

Sulfur shows up in:

• medicines (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs) 💊 

• skin care (acne treatments, eczema creams)

• matches (the “spark” ingredient) 🔥 

• fertilizers

• shampoos (especially dandruff ones) 🧴 

• preservatives

• rubber production

• wine (to keep it from going bad) 🍷 

If you look around your home right now, chances are you’re within arm’s reach of sulfur.

Why do we need it?

Becuase our body uses sulfur to do all the unglamorous but essential jobs:

• build proteins 🏗️ 

• repair tissues

• produce antioxidants 🛡️ 

• detoxify harmful stuff

• support hormones 📈 

• keep digestion flowing

And without sulfur, your body couldn’t even make:

• Keratin (vital for hair, nails, and skin)

• Insulin

• Collagen (learn about collagen in this 👉️ menu 👈️)

• Detox enzymes (Phase 1 & 2 - your internal “clean-up crew”)

No sulfur = your body runs like an 18-year-old laptop. 💻️ 

How is it won?

There are three ways:

🌋 Volcanoes

The dramatic, cinematic version (like Mount Ijen) where miners break sulfur from volcanic vents using metal rods and pure willpower.

⛽️ Oil & gas refining

Where sulfur is separated as a byproduct in a clean, efficient, and modern way.

⚒️ Underground mineral deposits

Traditional mining, but far less hardcore than the volcanic version.

Today, about 98% of the world’s sulfur comes from the oil and gas industry - worth almost $13 billion and is expected to keep growing. 🛢️ 

But when exactly do you need sulfur?

Your sulfur demands rise when you are

• fighting infections 🦠 

• exposed to toxins (air pollution, alcohol, heavy metals, and processed foods)

• eat low-sulfur foods (fruits, veggies, legumes) 🍏 

• high in estrogen

• on HRT 🧪 

• or your detox pathways are overwhelmed

If you feel slow, inflamed, puffy, or just “stuck,” it might not be stress - it might be sulfur deficiency. 👀 

👩‍🍳 Chef Tip:

Sulfur is one of those things you never think about when it’s there - but you definitely feel it when it’s missing.

Add it to your routine.

Don’t sleep on it!

🍰

Dessert

High-Sulfur Foods Checklist 🧾

Thinking about buying sulfur supplements?

You could

but why not save money and boost your meals the natural way instead?

Here’s a simple checklist of sulfur-rich foods you can add to your daily plate: 👇

🧄 Allium All-Stars

• Garlic

• Onions

• Leeks

• Shallots

• Chives

🥦 Cruciferous Powerhouses

• Broccoli

• Asparagus

• Cauliflower

• Cabbage

• Brussels Sprouts

• Kale

🍳 Protein Bombs

• Eggs

• Cheese

• Fish

• Meat

🥜

Snacks

Dad Joke of the Week

A Deep Question

What’s your biggest regret in life?

A Friendly Reminder

🎁

Takeaway  

You aren’t satisfied yet? 

Here are my Ingredients and Recommendations for you:

🎙️ Podcasts

• The Effects of Sulfur Consumption (Dr. Mercola)

• High Dose Sulfur for IBS with Dr Kathleen Janel (The SIBO Doctor)

• Why You Need Sulfur (The Health Awakening)

📚️ Book

• Sulfur. History, Technology, Applications & Industry, 3rd Edition (Dr. Gerald Kutney)

📺️ Videos

• Mining For 'Devil's Gold,' One Of The World's Most Dangerous Jobs (Business Insider)

• Are You Getting Enough Sulfur in Your Diet? (Dr. Berg)

• Sulfur Cycle (MooMooMath and Science)

📑 Articles

• All You Need to Know About Sulfur-Rich Foods (Healthline.com)

• Why miners in Indonesia risk their lives to get sulfur from inside an active volcano (Business Insider)

• Sulfur - Uses, Side Effects, and More (WebMD)

• 11 Foods High in Sulfur: Why This Mineral Is Important and How Much to Eat (Good RX)

Thank you for being here 💝 

Looking forward to serving you next week.

Much love from Lombok 🩴,

Benji