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Old 11-11-2008, 06:31 PM   #1
Seva
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Lightbulb Excitotoxins in food - what are they and how to avoid & heal from them

DANGER! NOT JUST TASTE ENHANCERS


by George E. Shambaugh, Jr., MD, Professor Emeritus of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University Medical School, graduate of Harvard University Medical School, author of three editions of Surgery of the Ear, as well as approximately 400 articles and editorials in medical journals
In Japan in 1908 a chemist trained in Germany was looking for the substance in Kombu seaweed that enhances the taste of food and discovered MSG (monosodium glutamate). By 1933 Japanese cooks were using over 10 million pounds of it to make bland recipes taste better. In 1948 quartermasters in the American army met with the foremost food manufacturers in the United States to discuss the Japanese technique for improving the taste of almost any food, and MSG use in America increased rapidly. Today it is added to most soups, chips, fast and frozen foods, prepared packaged dinners, and canned foods. However, since the public has learned about the syndrome of undesirable symptoms produced by MSG, food manufacturers often disguise it as "vegetable protein," "natural flavoring," or "spices," each containing12 to 40 percent MSG. Other commonly used taste enhancers are aspartame (NutraSweet®), cysteine, and aspartic acid. All of them enhance the taste of foods and beverages to which they are added by exciting the taste cells on the tongue.
. . . taste cells on the tongue are not the only things that these taste enhancers stimulate. When neurons in the brain are exposed to these substances, they become very excited and fire their impulses rapidly until they reach a state of extreme exhaustion. Several hours later these neurons suddenly die, as if the cells were excited to death.
There is increasing scientific evidence, however, that taste cells on the tongue are not the only things that these taste enhancers stimulate. When neurons in the brain are exposed to these substances, they become very excited and fire their impulses rapidly until they reach a state of extreme exhaustion. Several hours later these neurons suddenly die, as if the cells were excited to death. As a result, neuroscientists have dubbed this class of chemicals "excitotoxins."
Dr. Russell Blaylock, a neurosurgeon, has compiled some of the vital research linking excitotoxins to injury and diseases of the nervous system. "Unfortunately," says Blaylock, "most of the information has been buried in technical and scientific journals, far from the public eye." His book, Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, 2 published in 1994, cites 430 such articles.
The committee was sufficiently impressed to persuade baby food manufacturers to remove MSG from their products in 1969. But no one warned pregnant mothers to avoid MSG in their own food.
Dr. Blaylock relates how two ophthalmologists in 1957 fed MSG to baby mice and found that the nerve cells of the retina were destroyed by this taste enhancer. Ten years later another neuroscientist at Washington University, Dr. John W. Olney, repeated the experiment of giving MSG to baby mice. He found that not only were the retinal neurocells destroyed, but brain cells in the hypothalamus were also destroyed after a single dose of MSG. Dr. Olney, knowing that MSG was being added to baby food, informed the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of his findings, but failed to obtain any interest or action. He and others then went directly to Congress, testifying before a Congressional committee. The committee was sufficiently impressed to persuade baby food manufacturers to remove MSG from their products in 1969. But no one warned pregnant mothers to avoid MSG in their own food.
. . . overstimulation, as well as understimulation, can be devastating on brain development.
Continuing his research, Dr. Olney demonstrated in 1974 that when MSG was fed to pregnant Rhesus monkeys it could cause brain damage to their offspring. Other researchers found similar results when pregnant rats were fed MSG. Yet the FDA remained silent, and gynecologists and pediatricians were not told to warn their patients of this danger. Critics of Olney’s research claim that humans rarely ingest the high doses of MSG given to baby mice and pregnant monkeys. On the contrary, in humans those excitotoxins are concentrated five times more than in experimental animals. The child’s brain is four times more sensitive to any toxins than is an adult’s.
The human brain, when fully developed, contains one hundred billion neurons, with trillions of fiber connections between them. The development of these connections between neurons requires stimulation of the body by touch, speech, and vision. (Unstimulated babies left undisturbed in their cribs are delayed in their ability to sit up and to walk.) But overstimulation, as well as understimulation, can be devastating on brain development.
This "food protection committee" ignored Dr. Olney’s research and believed the biased reports of the food industry. Dr. Olney concluded that the FDA, supposedly protecting the public, is clearly dominated by powerful and well-heeled industrial giants.
Since we cannot experiment on human children, we must rely upon animal experimentation to learn the effects of substances that are potential health hazards. Baby mice fed MSG, for instance, grow up to be short and grossly obese despite dietary intake in normal amounts for mice. (Today obesity is a growing health problem. Could this be related to the heavy consumption of the so-called "diet sodas" containing NutraSweet®, which actually promote obesity due to the effects of the excitotoxin?)
We know that the hypothalamus is very immature at birth. The damage to this structure of the brain by MSG leads to severe endocrine problems later in life, among them decreased thyroid hormone, increased tendency toward diabetes, and higher cortisone levels than normal. A question that will be raised is: Are children receiving enough excitotoxins to damage their hypothalamus? They may be. A child consuming a soup containing MSG plus a drink with NutraSweet® will have a blood level of excitotoxins six times the blood level that destroys hypothalamus neurons in baby mice. The younger the child, the greater the danger to the brain.
Today obesity is a growing health problem. Could this be related to the heavy consumption of the so-called "diet sodas" containing NutraSweet®, which actually promote obesity due to the effects of the excitotoxin?
There are researchers who report that MSG has no adverse effect on hypothalamic function. Dr. C. B. Neineroff, a primary researcher in this field, attempted to get samples of animals purported to show no neural damage from MSG. Every time, he was denied such requests. (Why?)
While small children are more vulnerable to the effects of excitotoxins, there is increasing evidence that those adults who are especially sensitive to them suffer a slow destruction of brain cells. Previous traumas to the brain, as from a fractured skull, brain concussion, or previous illnesses affecting the brain (such as an attack of encephalitis or exposure to chemical toxins that affect the brain), increase vulnerability to degeneration from excitotoxins. The elderly, whose tissues have suffered the wear and tear of previous illnesses and physical trauma over the years, are especially vulnerable to excitotoxin damage. While there is little evidence that food-borne excitotoxins are the only cause of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease), there is evidence that in excess they can aggravate these conditions, and may even precipitate them in sensitive individuals.
A child consuming a soup containing MSG plus a drink with NutraSweet® will have a blood level of excitotoxins six times the blood level that destroys hypothalamus neurons in baby mice. The younger the child, the greater the danger to the brain.
In human children and adults not all neurons are affected equally by excitotoxins, for if they were, the child or adult would soon die. Instead, the delayed loss of a neuron here and a neuron there may occur over a considerable period of months or years before there begins to be impairment of function. Other toxic substances in addition to excitotoxins accelerate the death of individual neurons. Mercury, lead, aluminum, and cadmium are pollutants to which all of us are exposed in varying concentrations and over many years. An example is lead poisoning in children, which causes sufficient damage to brain neurons to permanently impair the child’s learning ability. Excitotoxins in beverages and foods will increase the damage to the brain of lead-poisoned children.
The mode of action of excitotoxins on an individual neuron has been shown to weaken the membrane that surrounds each living cell. While exciting the neurons to fire repeatedly, the excitotoxin allows calcium to enter the cell through its membrane. This causes the production of free oxygen radicals, which are believed to be the central cause for every injury and disease, including arthritis and cancer. Fortunately, the normal healthy body possesses antioxidants to quench free radicals before they cause serious damage. Vitamin C in water, and vitamin E and co-enzyme Q10 in fat, help to quench free radicals. In addition, the healthy and adequately nourished body produces three enzymes that trap and neutralize free radicals: superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. These enzymes require magnesium, chromium, zinc, copper, and selenium. All of these essential nutrients are marginally deficient in today’s American diet of processed foods, so they need to be supplied as supplements.
Excitotoxins in beverages and foods will increase the damage to the brain of lead-poisoned children.
If, indeed, excitotoxins such as MSG (disguised as "vegetable protein," "natural flavoring," or "spices") and aspartame (NutraSweet®) cysteine and aspartic acid may be damaging the brains of children and adults, why is the public not being informed? Dr. Olney found when he published his research in 1969 on how MSG and similar substances could damage the brains of children that there was a firestorm of criticism, with a multitude of papers claiming that experiments in other labs found no toxicity for MSG. Olney found that nearly all such studies were affiliated with and paid for by the food industry. When he testified before a government sponsored "food protection committee," a spokesman from the food industry testified that "even if MSG destroys the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus, this doesn’t matter because it was not known to have any significance." Yet, it was already well known then that the arcuate nucleus regulates the release of essential hormones by the pituitary! This "food protection committee" ignored Dr. Olney’s research and believed the biased reports of the food industry. Dr. Olney concluded that the FDA, supposedly protecting the public, is clearly dominated by powerful and well-heeled industrial giants.
The elderly, whose tissues have suffered the wear and tear of previous illnesses and physical trauma over the years, are especially vulnerable to excitotoxin damage. While there is little evidence that food-borne excitotoxins are the only cause of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease), there is evidence that in excess they can aggravate these conditions, and may even precipitate them in sensitive individuals.
Alzheimer’s disease does appear to be increasing beyond the normal rate of aging. The evidence that Alzheimer’s deterioration is associated with high levels of excitotoxins in the brain, and that there is a strong family history of this disease, indicates that those having had a stroke, high blood pressure, or brain trauma should restrict or totally avoid foods containing MSG, aspartame, and similar substances.
Since free oxygen radicals play a major role in the ultimate brain damage, my advice is to take adequate vitamin C (four to six grams a day in divided doses), vitamin E, (400 to 800 International Units), and beta carotene, 60 milligrams a day in divided doses. The minerals zinc, selenium, and magnesium, deficient in the usual American diet, need to be supplemented: zinc picolinate, containing 20 milligrams of elemental zinc, twice daily; copper sulphate, with 5 milligrams of elemental copper, once daily; selenium, 200 micrograms twice daily; and magnesium, 500 milligrams twice daily to assist the body to produce superoxidase dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase.
. . . the excitoxin . . . causes the production of free oxygen radicals, which are believed to be the central cause for every injury and disease, including arthritis and cancer. Fortunately, the normal healthy body possesses antioxidants to quench free radicals before they cause serious damage. Vitamin C in water, and vitamin E and co-enzyme Q10 in fat, help to quench free radicals. In addition, the healthy and adequately nourished body produces three enzymes that trap and neutralize free radicals: . . .
To strengthen the immune system, take cold-pressed flaxseed or linseed oil, one or two tablespoons daily, and a diet with plenty of complex carbohydrates, plus avoidance of refined sugar to reduce hypoglycemic episodes. Regular exercise by walking one to three miles daily will help to normalize blood-sugar levels. Avoid drinking more than two cups of coffee daily.
Incidentally, just as Excitotoxins was going to press it was learned by Dr. Blaylock that excitotoxins are being added to cigarettes to enhance their taste. "The Taste That Kills," indeed!
___________
1This article was first published in the Summer1995 Shambaugh Medical Research Institute Newsletter #45. Dr. Shambaugh has kindly given us his permission to publish it again in NOHA NEWS.
2Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills by Russell L. Blaylock, MD, copyright 1994, Health Press, Box 1388, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87504, 264 pages, hard back, $27.00.
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Old 11-12-2008, 12:03 AM   #2
honeybee
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Default Re: Excitotoxins in food - what are they and how to avoid & heal from them

Thanks Miki

I posted Dr Blaylock's video presentation in another thread but thought it would be worth reposting here as it's more on topic.

Fat, Msg Aspartame - It's all in the food.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...P1xsC_Aw&hl=En
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Old 11-17-2008, 04:52 AM   #3
bilderburger w/cheese
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Default Re: Excitotoxins in food - what are they and how to avoid & heal from them

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html


just print it out. its the easiest thing to do.


depending on how strict you want to get, tomatos and peanuts also have heavy amounts of naturally occuring glutamic acid levels in them. cheese, for the most part, utilizes 'enzymes' in its manufacture.

excuse the flagrant plug, but i totally recommend blaylocks newsletter to everyone. i got it-- i feel it is worth the money (hell, the financial system will collapse anyway--this is money well spent on your health).

https://www.newsmaxstore.com/newslet...ck/offer3a.cfm
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Old 11-17-2008, 05:51 AM   #4
whitecrow
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Default Re: Excitotoxins in food - what are they and how to avoid & heal from them

Quote:
Originally Posted by Miki View Post
To strengthen the immune system, take cold-pressed flaxseed or linseed oil, one or two tablespoons daily...
Just to clear up any possible misunderstanding, linseed oil and flaxseed oil are the same thing. Linseed oil is industrial grade, and flaxseed oil is food grade. Flax also gives us linen...it's one of the most useful plants in the history of the world.

This is good info...a great post. Thanks.

Another excellent way to detox naturally is to add kombucha tea to the diet.
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Old 11-23-2008, 03:24 AM   #5
Magamud
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Default Re: Excitotoxins in food - what are they and how to avoid & heal from them

Natural News Avoid GMO's

(NaturalNews) Recent polls across the world have consistently shown that, if they had a choice, 90% of people would actively seek to avoid GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in their food. The large multinational corporations of the world have gone through extensive measures to ensure the citizens of most nations have no possible way of knowing whether the food they and their children are eating contain contaminants of GMOs. The labelling of GMOs on the packaging of any foods in the US for example, is illegal. For example, if a company like Kellogs decided to include a full disclosure label on their cereal box that stated, "contains genetically modified corn" they could be sued by the manufacturer and then face possible prison time.

This is a very important issue because the democratic process of many nations has been surreptitiously supplanted by the corporatocracy of the seed company juggernauts. America has one of the highest levels of GMOs in their food chain in the western world with up to 85% of its pre-packaged and processed foods coming from genetic engineering. The people have never asked for GMOs- but got them anyway. The people then asked that they be properly labeled so they could avoid them- they were ignored. Therefore, seeing how our health freedom and well-being is consistently under attack from large multi-national corporations only seeking to increase profits at the expense of our health, what are we to do?

What we can do is simply try to avoid the GMO contaminants altogether and be extremely vigilant of how we spend our money and which companies we are choosing to support. Here are five simple and effective ways to decrease your contact with untested, toxic and dangerous GMOs.

1.) Buy Locally Produced Food

For now, GMOs are only used by large multinational corporations who buy direct from large farms. Produce from local mom and pop farmers have yet to become genetically modified. Purchasing locally grown food supports your local farmers and your health. Not to worry about GMO tomatoes and potatoes as they have all been pulled from the market.

2.) Buy Organically Grown Food

For now, the organic certification process is a relatively safe bet to ensure your food is free of GMOs, although this may not be the case in the future. Help support global sustainability by purchasing certified organically grown food.

3.) Avoid the Top Four GMO Crops of Soy, Corn, Canola and Cottonseed

This is a bit tricky as most blended oils in North America contain canola and cottonseed. Whenever you go out to dinner and receive anything fried, you are most likely consuming GMOs from the oil, not to mention transfat. A way around this would be to purchase 100% extra virgin olive oil, but be sure to avoid the term olive oil as most of it is blended with some GMO cottonseed or canola. Unless it specifically states "Non-GMO" or some derivation on the label, it most likely contains GMOs.

Likewise, any time you go you consume corn chips, tacos or soy milk, you are eating GMOs, again unless it specifically states Non-GMO or is organic.

4.) Avoid Artificial Additives and Sweeteners

Most of use are aware of the dangers behind the artificial sweetener and excitotoxin, aspartame (known as preservative E951), but may not be aware that it is created using genetic modification. Even the majority of vitamin C (asorbic Acid) and many B vitamins have been created via genetic modification. A Japanese company was forced to pull GMO L-Tryptophan off the market in 1989 after thousands of people became severely ill with many developing an extremely rare blood disorder called, Esinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome (EMS), although the FDA never publicly mentioned that GMO contamination was the true cause of the recall.

5.) Look For the Non-GMO Label

This includes all animals used for food because most are typically fed GMO feed. If it does not state Non-GMO on the label, then email the manufacturer and ask if they use GMO feed. It is best to attempt to contact all of the manufacturers of the foods you generally eat on a daily or even weekly basis and determine whether GMOs ingredients are utilized in the food. You have a fundamental right to know whether the foods you are consuming have been contaminated with GMOs. When in doubt always look for the Non-GMO label, and unfortunately assume that it has been genetically modified unless the opposite have been explicitly stated.
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