Nine Things You Need To Know About MSG

[Pat Robinson]

[Guest Blog Post from Amy Love of Real Food Whole Health.]

Nine Things You Need To Know About MSG:

1. MSG is a dangerous food additive.

MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a processed food additive. It is an extremely dangerous neurotoxin (excitotoxin) that shrivels and kills brain cells in the hypothalamus and has been linked to migraines, seizures, ADD/ADHD, heart palpitations, tremors, and MANY other symptoms that can even be fatal.

2. MSG is an excitotoxin.

An excitotoxin is a chemical that causes a brain cell to become overexcited and fire uncontrollably, leading to cell death. MSG (and other excitotoxins like asparatame) has the potential for inflicting permanent damage to the brain and nervous system. These chemicals also cross the placental barrier, harming the brains of unborn children.

3. MSG may be hidden on labels.

A label may say that there is MSG added to the food, but often does not specifically list MSG as an ingredient.

• You need to know that there are over 40 hidden names for MSG on food labels. (Yes, 40!) So, foods labeled NO-MSG or restaurants that advertise as being MSG-Free (think Chinese restaurants) may not have actual MSG added to in, but if they contain any of these “hidden name” ingredients, there is STILL MSG IN THE FOOD!

• Get a list of these hidden names here.
  
  

4. The glutamates in MSG are absorbed directly from the mouth to the brain.

Some investigators believe that the great increase in violence in this country starting in 1960 is due to the increased use of MSG beginning in the late 1950s, particularly as it was added to baby foods.

5. Aspartame can cause an MSG type reaction in many people.

Aspartame will be found in some medications, including children’s medications. For questions about the ingredients in pharmaceuticals, check with your pharmacist and/or read the product inserts for the names of “other” or “inert” ingredients.

• Drinks, candy, chewing gum and diet foods may contain aspartame, also listed as neotame, AminoSweet or NutraSweet.
  
  

6. In highly sensitive people, there are ingredients that may cause, or combine to cause enough processed free glutamic acid to serve as a MSG-reaction trigger.

These are:

• Anything “Enriched”
• Anything Vitamin enriched
• Brown rice syrup
• Corn starch
• Corn syrup
• Dextrose
• Lipolyzed butter fat
• Milk powder
• Modified food starch
• Most things low fat or no fat
• Reduced fat milk (skim; 1%; 2%)
• Rice syrup
  
  

7. Reactions to MSG are dose related and vary by the individual.

Some people react to even very small amounts and others may not notice visible symptoms, though internal damage may occur. MSG-induced reactions may occur immediately after ingestion or up to 48 hours later.

8. MSG may be hiding in your bathroom.

Reactions have been reported from soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners, and cosmetics, where MSG is hidden in ingredients with names that include the words “hydrolyzed,” “amino acids,” and/or “protein.”

• Most sun block creams and insect repellents also contain MSG.
  
  

9. MSG may be hiding in your medicine cabinet.

Binders and fillers for medications, nutrients, and supplements, both prescription and non-prescription, enteral feeding materials, and some fluids administered intravenously in hospitals, may contain MSG.

• According to the manufacturer, Varivax–Merck chicken pox vaccine (Varicella Virus Live), contains L-monosodium glutamate and hydrolyzed gelatin, both of which contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG) which causes brain lesions in young laboratory animals, and causes endocrine disturbances like obesity and reproductive disorders later in life.
  
  It would appear that most, if not all, live virus vaccines contain some ingredient(s) that contains MSG.

For more information on MSG, check out the informative book, Excitotoxins, by Russell Blaylock and check out this article.

Want to avoid MSG?

• Simply EAT REAL FOOD! Real, whole, unprocessed foods do not contain MSG or other excitoxins.
  
  

Bio: Amy Love, NTP, CGP, CILC is a real food based nutritional therapist, certified GAPS practitioner, inspired life coach and owner of Real Food Whole Health -- an online resource for real food nutrition, traditional food recipes, online classes, and nutritional therapy consultations for the whole family. Her passion is empowering moms to take charge of their family’s health by using the Essential Elements Method. After all, real food is only part of the story. Connect with Amy and learn more at Real Food Whole Health and join the community via the Facebook page, Pinterest, and Twitter.

[Christy Pooschke]

Thanks so much for this very important post! I hope it alerts many to this hidden danger in food. I suffered horribly from the effects of hidden MSG in foods, and I'm so grateful to have discovered this info back in 2007 that helped me avoid this toxin and alleviate my Fibro symptoms! I cannot imagine what my life would be like if I were still suffering the way I was and still had no clue about food like I did back then. I hope this article saves some folks from suffering just as learning this info truly gave me MY life back - I was literally laid up in bed at times, had to quit my job, etc. -- - but now I feel better and have more energy than pretty much anyone I know! :)