Everyone loves good, tasty food, but some people have a hard time knowing when to stop eating. While it is often blamed on lack of self control, some research suggests this behavior can be attributed to eating too much overly processed foods many people are consuming in their daily diets. Many packaged foods and processed foods contain substances called excitotoxins that literally excite your taste buds and make you crave more.
What Are Excitotoxins?
If you are not familiar with excitotoxins, they are chemicals (typically amino acids) that over stimulate your brain and can cause neurons to die when there is an over abundance. 1
Common Excitotoxins
Some common excitotoxins include MSG (monosodium glutamate) and asparatame. Both are found in hundreds of different processed food items you can find while walking down the aisles in your local grocery store.
MSG ( monosodium glutamate )
MSG is a flavor enhancer and is used in a multitude of food items. It is commonly added to canned soups, vegetables, sauces, seasonings and more. It is also frequently added in Chinese food and other ethnic foods to spice it up and give it some zing. It can also be found in a variety of restaurant food. Some people have immediate reactions to MSG including headaches, upset stomach or nausea. Other people may have issues that develop later and may not realize they may be attributed to MSG. Still others may think a little MSG won’t hurt them. The problem is that a multitude of processed foods contain MSG and you may be ingesting way more than you think.
Other Names Used In Place Of MSG
Food manufacturers often hide MSG in their products by listing it as another name, so even if you look at packaging labels to stay clear of it, you still may be ingesting this harmful substance. Unfortunately, there are more than thirty different names for MSG, so beware. Some other names for MSG include the following:
- Potassium Glutamate
- Soy Protein
- Natural Flavoring
- Yeast Extract
- Yeast Food
- Hydrolized Plant Protein
- Hydrolized Vegetable Protein
- Spices
- Nutritional Yeast
- Carrageenan
- Textured Protein
- Natural Flavoring
- Artificial Flavoring
- And more
Apartate
Aspartate is another popular excitotoxin used in many food products. Aspartame is derived from the amino acid aspartate and is used to sweeten diet soda pop, coffee, yogurt, candy, gum, tooth paste and more. Aspartame has been shown to cause serious neurological problems such as headaches, seizures, sleep issues and other problems.
Other Dangerous Excitotoxins
Some other excitotoxins include domoic acid, (found in farm-raised fish) casein (found in cheese), cystein and L-BOAA. These excitoxins are used to improve flavoring in a variety of foods that we consume.
Health Concerns Associated With Excitotoxins
Besides exciting your taste buds and making you want to consume more of a particular food, excitotoxins can cause a variety of other symptoms, as well. Some individuals may develop headaches, chest pain, insomnia, arthritis, skin irritations and depression. Excitotoxins can also cause stomach problems including diarrhea and constipation and may disrupt your gut flora balance.
Neurologic Disorders Attributed to Excitotoxins
Excitotoxins have also been attributed to some other ailments and neurological disorders by scientists and clinicians including the following:
- Migraines
- Parkinsons
- Alzheimers
- ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease)
- Seizures
- Huntingtons Disease
Steer Clear Of Excitotoxins
The best way to avoid the harmful symptoms associated with excitotoxins is to steer clear of them. It is best to try to avoid processed foods as much as possible. When buying prepared and packaged foods, make sure you read the food labels and ingredient lists. Try to avoid those products with questionable ingredients and the ones you don’t know how to pronounce. It is a good rule of thumb to look for packaged foods with 5 ingredients or less. In addition, it is good idea to stay away from artificial sweeteners, found both in food products and drinks, such as soda pop and sports drinks. Make sure you also pay attention to seasoning packets, bouillon, salad dressings and personal care items such as tooth paste, lotions and facial cleansers. Your best bet is to eat a diet including plenty of whole foods including: fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and meat.
Make Your Own Seasonings And Dressings
You can also make your own seasonings for tacos, chili, spaghetti and more by using single spices and making your own mix. You can do the same thing for salad dressings by using olive oil, fresh herbs and spices.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Source:
1 “EXCITOT0XINS – By Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, MD.” EXCITOTOXINS, www.joyfulaging.com/Excitotoxins.htm.
2 “Over 34 Hidden Names for MSG.” Foods That Heal You, 9 Jan. 2019, foodsthathealyou.com/over-34-hidden-names-for-msg/.
3“Excitotoxins: Tasty but Deadly.” Nuzum’s Nutraceuticals, www.drnuzum.com/articles/excitotoxins-tasty-but-deadly/.
4 “The 6 Most Dangerous Excitotoxins.” Dr. Group’s Healthy Living Articles, 13 Nov. 2014, www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/6-dangerous-excitotoxins/.
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