MSG = Dangerous!

WARNING: Don't read if this if you don't want to change your eating habits!

A subject I find so interesting is one called: "Why don't food companies or our government care about the short and long term effects of dangerous ingredients on our health?"

MSG (Mono sodium Glutamate) is a very interesting food additive because "Glutamate" itself, is a naturally occurring amino acid within our bodies. It has been found to be much more important in our brain and nervous system than ever previously thought. Researchers are also finding that having too much of a good thing within our bodies can have dire consequences.

From the time I gave birth to my son 3-1/2 years ago, I have become very fascinated with how the nervous system and brain works. I see with my own eyes every day, how a child so perfect and beautiful, can struggle with certain things because the nervous system and brain are ever so slightly hindered. You may wonder what any of this has to do with MSG, but I encourage you to read on, you'll see how it is tied in.

Researchers are discovering amazing links between Alzheimer's Disease and Down Syndrome. So much so, that they are testing certain treatments on both DS and Alzheimer's to very positive results. In fact, when looking at the brain of someone with Down Syndrome and someone with Alzheimer's, they see interesting similarities. Both Alzheimer's Disease and Down Syndrome have similar Glutamate receptor problems. They have also recently found the gene codes for Autism and now believe that too much free Glutamic Acid is triggered by vaccines because of the immune response vaccines cause.Too much Glutamic Acid is found to be present in children with Autism. They are also finding links between Schizophrenia and too much Glutamate. The Drugs with the most promising effects in Alzheimer's Disease right now are called Glutamate Inhibitors. This is just a glimpse into just how important a role this amino acid and the balance of it, plays in our overall health. For some in depth, informative articles on Glutamate and how it pertains to our health, go HERE.
Ahh, Glutamate, Glutamate, Glutamate...
MSG one of these interesting little food additives food companies use to make food "better" tasting. Most of us are completely unaware of just how sneaky food companies are at hiding MSG and how they can legally do so. Because MSG is naturally occurring, food companies can argue that it is a natural substance, and if altered in its chemical makeup, they don't have to report it on an ingredient label. What makes this dangerous though, is many MSG sensitive individuals don't see MSG on the label and can have severe allergic reactions anyway. MSG is naturally occurring, however when it is extracted and chemically altered and then added to foods, it becomes a dangerous chemical in our bodies. Just what is MSG, why is it so bad for us and why is it allowed in our foods? Let's find out.

MSG is a salt of the amino acid, Glutamic Acid. Glutamate is an amino acid used by the body and linked into the chains of protein in the body. It is made by freeing glutamic acid by hydrolyzing vegetable protein or by fermenting glucose from starchy foods. It is also created chemically. This is actually quite a fascinating bit of information. To quote from a great website devoted to MSG, It is also considered an excitotoxin, and these excitotoxins can destroy the myelin sheath and kill brain cells. Researchers are finding out that an excess of glutamate in the brain can actually cause nerve cells to die from over stimulation. It it's too much info now, read more on this website.

Why is it added to our foods? MSG tricks your tongue into making you think a certain food is high in protein and thus nutritious. It is not a "meat tenderizer". It is not a "preservative". The food industry is trying to confuse the issue by focusing on the "fifth" taste sense they call umami. Free glutamic acid is detected by the taste buds as a simple way to signal the presence of protein in a food, just as there are fat receptors to detect fats and receptors that sense carbohydrate or sweet flavors. The purpose is to help us discern real food from inedible matter. It changes your perception of not simply taste but the nutritious qualities of what you put into your mouth. However, and here is the main problem with free glutamic acid - It is the very same neurotransmitter that your brain and many organs including your ears, eyes, nervous system and pancreas in your body use to initiate certain processes in your body. MSG stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. So many diets these days are concerned about the Glycemic Index of foods and yet none of them address the fact that MSG and free glutamic acid stimulate the pancreas to release insulin when there doesn't even have to be carbohydrates in the food for that insulin to act on. The food industry has found their own "anti-appetite suppressant". It's a convenient way to keep consumers coming back for more. The blood sugar drops because of the insulin flood. And you are hungry an hour later. Sound familiar?

Here are some other names to look for when searching for MSG. I didn't know it was disguised in so many other foods that I currently eat. This is very eye opening! Look out for, Hydrolyzed Proteins, Autolyzed Yeast and Protein Concentrates and this is just the beginning. The USDA requires food manufactures to list MSG when adding it as a direct ingredient, however other forms of MSG are added to foods and don't need to be called MSG. Such as in chicken or vegetable broth, Hydrolyzed soy protein. Also it's in canned tuna, canned soup and stock, frozen dinners, seafood, fast food, low fat yogurts, ice creams, many chips and nearly every cheese or ranch flavored processed food. Whew! Eye opening. For a very complete list of foods which contain MSG, go HERE.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I highly recommend going to this very thoroughly researched website to read more about why MSG is so dangerous and why you should go out of your way to avoid it at all costs. If you are sensitive to MSG, or if this is new information to you, please comment. We would love to hear from you.