SEARCH:
Sign in | Join | Help
search Mercola.com
 
FREE Subscription 
The World’s Most Popular Natural Health Newsletter
The Shocking Dangers of MSG You Don’t Know

 

Part 3


A silent killer that’s worse than alcohol, nicotine, and drugs is likely lurking in your kitchen cabinets and even your child’s school cafeteria. It’s monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer that’s known widely as an addition to Chinese food, but that’s actually added to thousands of the foods you eat.

In this telling three-part video series, you’ll find out why Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon, describes MSG as a dangerous excitotoxin, and learn how this toxin could be making you fat.


 

Part 1



 

Part 2




Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

MSG is used in countless foods in your supermarket, local restaurants, school cafeterias, and more. Everything from soup to crackers to meats may contain it because MSG, as dangerous as it is, makes food taste good and it is dirt cheap, just like sugar.

Incredibly, even infant formulas and baby food contain this poison, even though babies and infants, who are four times more sensitive than adults to the toxic effects of this chemical, are the most at risk.

There are a couple of main reasons why MSG is one of the worst food additives on the market. First, as Dr. Blaylock, author of the highly recommended Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, says in the video, MSG is an excitotoxin, which means that it overexcites your cells to the point of damage, acting as a poison. The second part of the equation is that MSG can be literally hidden in food labels, under names like broth, casein, hydrolyzed, autolyzed, and more, making it extremely difficult to identify.

MSG is also a probable cause contributing to the obesity epidemic. As the FDA continues to vouch for its safety, scientists have known that MSG causes obesity since the 1960s!

It is clearly not worth a few bites of tasty junk food to give your body the green light to produce visceral fat, the most dangerous type that surrounds your organs and increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, insomnia, type 2 diabetes, and more.

Yet, that is exactly what you’re doing when you eat foods that contain MSG.

Eliminating MSG from your diet is a wise choice for everyone, including pregnant women. To do so, stick to natural, unprocessed foods. And, if you do eat processed foods, be on the lookout for the many hidden names for MSG on food labels. They include (but are far from limited to):
  • Gelatin
  • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
  • Yeast Extract
  • Malted Barley
  • Rice Syrup or Brown Rice Syrup
The dangers surrounding MSG are, perhaps, most concerning for new moms who are unable to breastfeed, and are looking for an alternative to the MSG-laden infant formulas on the market. Fortunately, women who are unable to breastfeed can make an extremely nutritious, MSG-free infant formula for their baby using raw milk.




Related Links:



Comment on This Article Community Comments (99)
 
 
Posted On Aug 13, 2007
I like my MSG from Chinese origin, and after a satisfying tainted take out meal, washed down with a 64 fluid ounce HFCS laden soda, I brush wIth SpringFresh toothpaste (the brand preferred by 9 out of 10 PRC evil strategists seeking to internally destroy American, without ever firing one shot).

 
Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
Replied

annapavlova42
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 2/2007
annapavlova42  
 
Posted On Aug 13, 2007
Russ, you are a well educated, intelligent, compassionate, and caring  human-being.  We need you to speak out and be active in our cause against the new world order.  You, will make a difference.


Rogway
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Rogway  
 
Posted On Aug 14, 2007
Russ---I will second, third and fourth Anna's motion.


suehud
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2007
suehud  
 
Posted On Aug 28, 2007

Good for you!!



healthfoodnut
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
healthfoodnut  
 
Posted On Aug 28, 2007

Paul Newsmans products were touted as soooo wonderful.  They are also full of hidden MSG.  I avoid his products like the plague.To his salsa he adds "spices"and organic cilantro flavor.  Why does food need organic cilantro flavor when there is cilantro as an added ingredient?His dressings use the cheapest and most rancid oils  canola and soy.  He adds natural flavors, hydrolyzed soy proteins and a host of other goodies.  One is not safe because a product is labeled as organic.  Truthinlabeling.org has a nice comprehensive list of hidden msg it is run back Jack Samuels who was in the second video.

To the poster who says who cares there are worse things in food.  Well if you don't mind your brain cells being killed go for it.  Just because one does not have "symptoms" does not mean that they are in the clear.  Having no reaction to me is even scarier because a false sense of security is evoked.



blurry-eyed
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
blurry-eyed  
 
Posted On Aug 28, 2007

My sister and I, ate at a sushi restaurant over the weekend. About 10 minutes after we left the restaurant, we were both hit with a severe headache, feeling dizzy and blurry eyed. Those are the classic symptons of MSG. We had asked the server if they cook wth MSG. He said "NO". This is mainly why I prefer to cook my own food. =]



C Ed Wright
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2007
C Ed Wright  
 
Posted On Aug 28, 2007

PaT Robertson's 'praise' is merely the typical reaction of anyone not knowing what merry christmaS refers to below.  We keep saying "Read labels!" but when the labels lie we can be deceived, as was Pat Robertson.  Plus most folks (such as Pat Robertson) have no idea what these code names are, either.

Of course if you want really good salad dressing, like PR said to the gal, learn to like olive oil and balsamic vinegar instead (that way there's no funny-runny in it), lemon juice optional.  I'd add Italian seasoning which is a mix of herbs & spices, sea salt and fresh ground black or four-color pepper.  A pinch of turbinado will be wanted by some folks, and I personally like my vinegar a little more diluted but that's just me.  I.e., "ya gotta roll yer own."



donroth
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2007
donroth  
 
Posted On Aug 31, 2007

Confucious say Chinese paranoia not healthy, Russ...



dollarsandsense
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
dollarsandsense  
 
Posted On Sep 11, 2007

I second blurry-eyed's comment,

There's a Thai resturaunt in town with a sign in the front window stating "NO MSG". My reaction from their food was worse then all the chinese food I've ever had. It's pathetic how much restaurants and grocery stores lie to the public.



haidapreciosa
Novice User Novice User Joined On 9/2007
haidapreciosa  
 
Posted On Sep 13, 2007

We are a family of six, 2 adults and 4 children, and we like MSG, we buy it from our local Oriental Supermarket every time. And I do have a bit of a question regarding the subject; if MSG is so dangerous, how come that oriental people are so healthy and their culture is one of the most healthy and long living one? I havent seen neither heard of chinese people with vision problems caused by MSG and for sure they dont have problems with obesity. We see a chinese doctor, he practises alternative and homeophatic medicine, and when i questioned him about it, he was quite surprised to find out about all these research about MSG. He only said the anything that is consumed in high doses will eventually damage your body, therefore just apply common sense to the amount of MSG that it gets consumed.



ladyspa
Novice User Novice User Joined On 7/2007
ladyspa  
 
Posted On Sep 18, 2007

I bought some dry roasted peanuts the other day and after eating some that evening felt wired, upset stomach, had trouble sleeping -- checked the label and sure enough, MSG.  Have found that all popular brands (and not so popular ones) generally coat their dry roasted peanuts with MSG.


 
 
 
Posted On Aug 28, 2007

The TRUTH about MSG has been known for decades, but the masses continue to choose taste over health. I've been a Chiropractor for 12 years and experienced the detrimental effects of this potent neurotoxin. Headaches and telescoping vision were frequent reminders as to how much restaurants lie about the quality of their products. When it comes to eating, I follow the advice of the great Jack Lalanne: "If God made it, eat it; If Man made it, don't eat it." Packaged, processed foods and restaurant foods are poison. Increase your hydration and avoid all stimulants (coffee, teas, sodas, alcohol and MSG).   Dr. Dan Bettiol  www.truthaboutwaterhealing.com


 
Dr. Dan
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2006
Dr. Dan  
 
 
 
Posted On Aug 13, 2007
Don't yah just love those good ole boys at the FDA? ... They're watchin out fer yah!!

 
shiva
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 10/2006
shiva  
Replied

rubynewsong
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 2/2007
rubynewsong  
 
Posted On Sep 12, 2007

Love your humor!


 
 
 
Posted On Aug 28, 2007

It is pretty DARN DISGUSTING how all of these chemicals get snuck into our foods by calling them something else!!!  It really sucks living in the world today!! It is soooooooooo hard trying to take the best care of your family with such a screwed up world!  All I can do is try my best and make sure they all end up in heaven one day!


 
BeyondOrganic
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
BeyondOrganic  
Replied

sandibeach53_203
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2007
sandibeach53_203  
 
Posted On Sep 11, 2007

You know it just makes no sense. If I were to sell say "lemonade" and it contained all of these things that were so bad for you, and could possibly make you sick or even worse shorten your life. I'll bet you, the cops would throw me in jail!!!!



ladykisses23
Novice User Novice User Joined On 12/2007
ladykisses23  
 
Posted On Jun 24, 2008

ummm.. you might be disappointed by the whole "heaven" notion as well.



Steve57
Novice User Novice User Joined On 7/2008
Steve57  
 
Posted On Jul 05, 2008

They seem to hide them deeper and deeper, and then convince you that their food is healthy and good for you! Hey, about going to heaven one day, I'm in ! Have you made your reservations yet?? Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, no one can come the the Father but through me! Pretty bold statment,  huh! Well I believe Him and I prayed to Him and asked Jesus into my life, to forgive me for my sins and to guide my life, and WOW everything is new! The peace and joy and love and hope He has given me is unbelieveable! So I'm eating as healthy as I can so my body will be working as well as it can, to do what ever Jesus wants me to do, and tell as many as I can how to escape hell and have eternal life with Jesus!


 
 
 
Posted On Aug 28, 2007

The list goes on:

"Natural flavorings"

(Parmesan cheese naturally high)

2-aminoglutaric acid

Accent (remember "Wake up that flavor!")

Ajinomoto

Autolyzed yeast extract

Cenovis (Swiss)

EU food additive code: E621

Flavor enhancer 621

HS code: 29224220 (IUPAC name 2-aminopentanedioic acid)

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Hydrolyzed yeast

Marmite (Britain/New Zealand)*

Monosodium glutamate

MSG

Sodium glutamate

Soy extract

Soy sauce

Vegemite (Australia/New Zealand)*

Vetsin

These all either are, or are code names for, or are very high in, MSG or other 'free' glutatates.  This is one of those things where a little, i.e., naturally-occurring amounts, is okay but a lot becomes a serious problem.  Kind of like caffein, where the 100mg in a cup of coffee is sometimes a Good Thing (for example, as opposed to falling alseep at the wheel in traffic!) but 10,000mg (10g) or even 1000mg (1g) all at once would definitely be overstimulation!

FYI, the Brits, Aussies & New Zealanders use the noted* items as a spread on breads etc. or in pastries where we might use fruit jam or preserves.  I gather it's a lot like a sort of soy sauce paste made from brewers' yeast.  It seems someone in that industry wanted to find a way to sell what they used to have to dispose of, and found a market for it thusly.  (The Swiss stuff is in the same general class, I think.)  It's the fluoride story all over again!


 
C Ed Wright
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2007
C Ed Wright  
Replied

Kimmyd64
Novice User Novice User Joined On 7/2006
Kimmyd64  
 
Posted On Aug 28, 2007

Guess what?  I went to NIH dot gov to look for the research articles I had read on MSG and obesity in the past - and guess what?  They are missing currently from the NIH Library.  Interesting.  OK - So I recall from memory that there was a Japanese Scientist that actually discovered the way to isolate/create MSG as we have it today.  The knowledge of MSG contributing to obesity was published in the article/papers I read as far back as the early 70's.  Interesting.

Between the genetically altered crap they shovel in us, to the fact the "hide" the ingredients under alternate names should tell us something.  Why hide it under other names if there are no concerns?  I am thoroughly disgusted with the way our Govt. has watched over our "safety" while special interest to approve new "foods" and ingredients are at a screaming pace.

I won't get on a soap box but have real concerns.  What will prevent GM pollen from merging in organic farms? When will we have a choice to obtain/drink REAL milk?  When can we expect to have a choice NOT  to have our food exposed to radiation? When will our children STOP being required to partake of immunizations that contain ingredients known to be toxic to the human body? WHY is OUR Govt. not stopping the insanity of ingredients "allowed/approved" by our wonderful FDA and USDA, yet other countries won't allow the ingredients to be part of what they expose their citizens to?

When will the insanity stop? The poisoning stop? The potentially genetically altering ingredients stop?  Anyone? Help? Ideas? Thoughts? Concerns? Do others feel as strongly as I do about this?



gmhertzog
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
gmhertzog  
 
Posted On Sep 11, 2007

It's just for the MONEY!  Few if any of our government people are watching out for our health and safety and could care less!


 
 
 
 
© Copyright 2009 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.