MSG - anyone ever heard about this?

Discussions on the details of treatment programs using either diet, medications, or a combination of the two, can take place here.

Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh

Post Reply
User avatar
Peggy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1844
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 8:13 am
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada

MSG - anyone ever heard about this?

Post by Peggy »

I received this email recently and wondered if anyone has ever heard of this...

"MSG - The Slow Poisoning Of the Masses

MSG Hides Behind 25+ Names, Such As 'Natural Flavouring'
MSG Is Also In Your Favorite Coffee Shops And Drive-Ups

I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic, so did a friend of mine, John Erb.

He was a research assistant at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and spent years working for the government.

He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called "The Slow Poisoning of America".

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies. No strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so the scientists have to create them. They make these morbidly obese creatures by injecting them with MSG when they are first born. The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates; causing rats (and humans?) to become obese. They even have a title for the fat rodents they create: "MSG-Treated Rats".

I was shocked too. I went to my kitchen, checking the cupboards and the fridge. MSG was in everything: The Campbell's soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavoured potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, Kraft salad dressings, especially the 'healthy low fat' ones.

The items that didn't have MSG marked on the product label had something called ''Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein'', which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate.

It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff. They hide MSG under many different names in order to fool those who carefully read the ingredient list, so they don't catch on. (Other names for MSG: 'Accent' - 'Aginomoto' - 'Natural Meet Tenderizer', etc) But it didn't stop there. When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants what menu items had MSG.

Many employees, even the managers, swore they didn't use MSG. But when we ask for the ingredient list, which they grudgingly provided, sure enough MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere:

Burger King

MacDonalds

Wendy's

Taco Bell

And every restaurant like: TGIF, Chilis', Applebee's and Denny's use MSG in abundance.

Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG was in EVERY chicken dish, salad dressing and gravy. No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin, their secret spice was MSG.

So, why is MSG in so may of the foods we eat?

Is it a preservative or a vitamin?? Not according to my friend John. In the book he wrote, an expose of the food additive industry called "The Slow Poisoning of America" he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body. http://www.spofamerica.com

Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby group supporting MSG at: http://www.msgfactscom/facts/msgfact12.html explains that the reason they add it to food is to make people EAT MORE OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

A study of the elderly showed that people eat more of the foods it is added to.The Glutamate Association lobby group says eating more benefits the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us? 'Betcha can't eat just one', takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight?

The MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products. It makes people choose their product over others, and makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn't added.

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance! Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the pre-packaged meals, soups, snacks and fast foods we are tempted to eat everyday.The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim it's safe to eat in any amount. How can they claim it safe when there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles like these? :-

'The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of exercise in obesity'. GobattoCA, Mello MA, Souza CT, Ribeiro IA.Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol. 2002.

'Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats'. Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug.

'Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats: an animal model of multiple risk factors'. Iwase M, Yamamoto M, Iino K, IchikawaK, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima Hypertens Res. 1998 Mar.

'Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in suckling period and subsequent development of obesity'. Tanaka K, Shimada M, Nakao K, Kusunoki Exp Neurol. 1978 Oct.

Yes, that last study was not a typo, it WAS written in 1978. Both the "medical research community" and "food manufacturers" have known about MSG's side effects for decades! Many more studies mentioned in John Erb's book link MSG to Diabetes, Migraines and headaches, Autism, ADHD and even Alzheimer's. But what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and causing the obesity epidemic we now see?

Even as you read this, G. W. Bush and his corporate supporters are pushing a Bill through Congress called the "Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act" also known as the "Cheeseburger Bill", this sweeping law bans anyone from suing food manufacturers, sellers and distributors. Even if it comes out that they purposely added an addictive chemical to their foods. Read about it for yourself at: http://www.yahoo.com. The Bill has already been rushed through the House of Representatives, and is due for the same rubber stamp at Senate level. It is important that Bush and his corporate supporters get it through before the media lets everyone know about 'MSG, the intentional Nicotine for food'.

Several months ago, John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of the highest government health officials in Canada. While sitting in the Government office, the official told him "Sure, I know how bad MSG is, I wouldn't touch the stuff." But this top level government official refused to tell the public what he knew.

The big media doesn't want to tell the public either, fearing legal issues with their advertisers. It seems that the fallout on fast food industry may hurt their profit margin. The food producers and restaurants have been addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price for it. Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive. But what can I do about it?... I'm just one voice.

What can I do to stop the poisoning of our children, while our governments are insuring financial protection for the industry that is poisoning us.

This e-mail is going out to everyone I know in an attempt to tell you the truth that the corporate owned politicians and media won't tell you. The best way you can help to save yourself and your children from this drug-induced epidemic, is to forward this email to everyone. With any luck, it will circle the globe before politicians can pass the legislation protecting those who are poisoning us. The food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry. Imagine if big tobacco had a bill like this in place before someone blew the whistle on Nicotine?"

If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for us, and you don't believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself. Go to the National Library of Medicine, at http://www.pubmed.com. Type in the words "MSG Obese" and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear.

We the public, do not want to be rats in one giant experiment and we do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic, addicted sheep, feeding the food industry's bottom line, while waiting for the heart transplant, diabetic induced amputation, blindness or other obesity induced, life threatening disorders.

Consider your diet and ask yourself if you want this poison. Ask your friends to look into the facts too."
Mars
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2307
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:30 pm
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Post by Mars »

:yikes: I guess FRESH (right off of the tree, stalk or out of the ground would eliminate that problem!) Kudos for non-processed foods!

Love,
Mars
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." -- Buddha
User avatar
celia
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 563
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:27 am
Location: Albany, New York

Post by celia »

I always knew that MSG is bad. Now I know, it's really bad! Celia
I beleive in magic!
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35069
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Ok, here are a couple of observations. While most of what this article says is true, (technically), MSG is not added to food to create an obese customer base. It's added to food to improve the taste, and to improve the eye appeal. It's a flavor enhancer. If you don't believe that, add some to your food and see how much better it looks and tastes.

If you're going to go after every food processing company that tries to make its products look and taste better, that pretty well covers all of them, doesn't it? Why would any company in the world want to try to make its food products look and taste unappealing? Don't they all try to sell as much of their products as they can? Isn't that why they are in business? Duh!

Note that I avoid MSG like the plague, but not because I believe that it is a part of some sort of plot to make the world population obese. I avoid it because of the likelihood that it may be just another trigger for food intolerance reactions.

Love,
Wayne

P S Yes, Colonel Sanders did put a lot of MSG into his recipe of 11 herbs and spices, (around 2%), but I doubt that he did it to kill all his customers. I suspect he did it to sell chicken. LOL.
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Polly
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5185
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 am
Location: Maryland

Post by Polly »

Peg,

Thanks for sharing this. I find it very interesting. I had never heard about the addiction theory. Like Wayne, I'd hate to think that the food industry knowingly tried to addict us to a harmful chemical......however, look at how the the tobacco industry has operated for so many years. Makes one wonder.

Love,

Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35069
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Polly,

That's an interesting comparison with nicotine. However, I'm not sure that MSG creates a true chemical dependence, the way nicotine does. Personally, even though I probably ate a lot of it over the years, I have never felt the urge to "eat something with MSG in it". Have you? IOW, the foods that I crave, I like just as much without MSG, as I do with it. MSG just enhances the food's own natural flaver.

The only redeeming values that MSG has, is improved flavor and appearance of food. Nicotine actually has some valid, (and impressive), medical benefits. Remember, it is actually listed as protective of MC and UC, for example. Also, are you acquainted with the fact that "Researchers have long been aware that fewer smokers get Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases than non-smokers"? That quote comes from this site, and there are a lot of references listed, to substantiate the claims:

http://www.forces.org/evidence/hamilton ... cotine.htm

Have you ever wondered why so many of the folks who live to be alert and active past the century mark were smokers?

Love,
Wayne
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
starfire
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5198
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 5:48 am
Location: Pennsylvania

Post by starfire »

:grin: I don't DARE let my husband read that last post, Wayne....We would no longer be a smoke free household in record time. :grin:

Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35069
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Shirley,

Is it just a coincidence that life seems to hold so many cruel surprises for us? The roses that we love the most, always seem to have the most thorns, and even the most distasteful things, sometimes turn out to have the most incredible hidden benefits.

Love,
Wayne
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
starfire
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5198
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 5:48 am
Location: Pennsylvania

Post by starfire »

I suppose that perhaps keeps us from being TOO inflexible?????? (at least some of us) :???:
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
Matthew
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 529
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 5:44 am
Location: Denver, CO

Post by Matthew »

Throwing stones at any one food additive is kind of pseudo science unless you look at all food additives with the same scrutiny. IMHO, searching the web for realistic information means balancing real science, current popular food or additive scapegoats, and some claim for an overly promoted and expensive product.

It would appear to me that MSG is no worse or no better than all the other chemistry of food additives to say nothing of what is really in drugs that a Doctor may prescribe or some of the quantitative and qualitative unknowns of “natural supplements”.

Even though I am a great promoter of the natural foods or a real foods diet, that just adds the question of pesticides and herbicides in vegetables and what may or may not actually be in “natural meat’’.

Both eating processed food or a natural diet is a matter of balancing all this information without getting so carried away that one piece of information or one “authority” clouds perception to the point of food paranoia and just makes symptoms worse.

Matthew
moremuscle
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 706
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:16 am
Location: South Carolina

Post by moremuscle »

Matthew, that is very profound - I like your attitude. Thank you.

Karen
Inspired by the paleolithic diet and lifestyle -
living w/o gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and yeast.
User avatar
Peggy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1844
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 8:13 am
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada

Post by Peggy »

I agree, Matthew, and was only pondering this one issue as it was emailed to me. I didn't mean to "single" out any one particular additive or food process.


Wayne - VERY interesting about the nicotine!

Peg
:pigtail:
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35069
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Peg,

Yep, nicotine also is known to increase mental dexterity, (such as the ability to do crossword puzzles, and solve problems) and if it weren't for all the other polutents and undesirable chemicals in tobacco, it might have some truly interesting possibilities, but a lot of the ingredients in tobacco tend to undo the benefits of the nicotine.

Here's another site that states the case in favor of niciotine's memory enhancing abilities:

http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library ... lzheimers/

Wayne
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
User avatar
celia
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 563
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:27 am
Location: Albany, New York

Post by celia »

My chiropractor told me that MSG is concentarted soy extract. I never realized that. Celia
I beleive in magic!
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35069
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Your chiropractor is sorta right--MSG is in concentrated soy extract, just as it is always in any protein that is labeled as hydrolyzed.

Actually, these days, MSG is made from starch, corn sugar, or molasses from sugar cane or sugar beets, by way of a fermentation process. It's not made from soy, it's just that soy sauces are so often used as as a carrier for it.

http://allergies.about.com/cs/msg/a/aa022100a.htm

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Post Reply

Return to “Discussions on Treatment Options Using Diet, and/or Medications”