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Excitotoxins and You

Excerpted from an article written by Reenie L. Mahon

After reading a book entitled, "Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills" by Russell L. Blaylock, I was immediately off to my kitchen to check labels. Practically every package of soup broth, sauce mix, snack crackers, and chips, some soy products, bread crumbs, tuna and even the fresh bakery bread contained one or more of these powerful brain toxins. That experience prompted me to write this article for the busy, health conscious consumers who may not have this book on their "must read" list yet. The "flavor enhancing" chemicals are added to an alarming number of foods and drinks we consume on a daily basis from supermarkets, health food stores, and restaurants. The snack food aisle abounds with excitotoxic chemicals, as do the canned fun-shaped pastas, soups, sugar-free soft drinks, and even baby foods and infant formulas. This group of chemicals stimulate the taste receptors on the tongue, thereby enhancing the taste of the foods to which they are added. But to your body, they create problems.

WHAT EXCITOTOXINS DO IN YOUR BODY

Several of these Excitotoxins are man-made and used as research tools, others are found in nature, such as Glutamate, Aspartate and Cysteine, all are amino acids and serve as neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers for the synaptic transfer of information in the brain. Glutamate and Aspartate are two of the most common neurotransmitters found in the brain and spinal cord. However, when their concentrations rise above the critical level they can become deadly toxins to the neurons (brain cells) and to all the nerve cells connected to these neurons. The brain is equipped to handle and balance these naturally occurring amino acids from food sources. However, when high concentrations of these isolated Excitotoxins are put into the bloodstream via food additives it is a seriously different situation. When the neurons are exposed to these substances, they become very excited and fire their impulses rapidly and repeatedly until they reach an extreme state of exhaustion; within hours these neurons die, as if "excited to death". Thus, neuroscientists dubbed this class of chemicals "Excitotoxins". They affect a specific type of neurons and cause widespread destruction of neurons in the retina of the eye, the hypothalamus, and the circumventricular organs. These are areas of the brain which control hormones, growth, the onset of puberty and many other important endocrine functions.

HIDDEN EXCITOTOXINS

Despite the alleged "safety" of the products, the industry "disguises" many of the excitotoxic additives in the labeling of their products. For example, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is one widely used excitotoxic additive which has been documented as posing many health risks. However, MSG is not required to be listed by any name if one product contacting pure MSG is an ingredient in another food; as seen by example in canned soup. If broth is used to make a soup, and the broth contains pure MSG, MSG does not have to be listed as an ingredient. If the broth was sold alone, it would be required to be listed.

Many foods.. not only contain MSG, but also contains other excitotoxins of equal potency in a substance even more dangerous than MSG alone. A label designated "Natural flavoring" may contain anywhere from 20-60% MSG. Another widely used substance known as "Hydrolyzed vegetable protein", "Vegetable protein", or "Plant protein" is a powerful excitotoxin mixture which is often portrayed as a perfectly safe and "natural" because it is made from plants. The extraction process involves the boiling of these vegetables in a vat of acid, followed by a process of neutralization within caustic soda. The end product is a brown sludge that collects on top, which is scraped off and allowed to dry. Hydrolyzed protein is high in three known excitotoxins; Glutamate, Aspartate, and Cystoic acid (converts to cysteine in the body).

Another excitotoxic additive is Aspartate, found in artificial sweetner NutrasweetTM and a wide variety of foods, candies and beverages. Nutrasweet consists of Phenylalaline, Aspartate (50%) and Methanol (wood alcohol). At 86 degrees Aspartate emits Methanol, Formaldehyde, Formic acid, and DKP. It is documented that liquid forms of excitotoxins are much more toxic to the brain than solid forms because they are absorbed faster into the bloodstream and produce higher concentrations than when mixed with solid foods.

It is up to you to protect your health and avoid Excitotoxins.

Excitotoxins to Look for on Labels and Before you Buy:
  • Aspartame, Aspartate
  • Cysteine, Cycteic Acid
  • Monosodium Glutamate

Additives that Always contain MSG:
  • Sodium Caseinate
  • Yeast Extract
  • Textured Protein
  • Autolyzed Yeast
  • Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
  • Calcium Caseinate
  • Hydrolyzed Plant Extract
  • Plant Protein Extract
  • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

Additives that Frequently contain MSG:
  • Natural Flavors/Flavoring
  • Malt Extract/Malt Flavoring
  • Bouillon
  • Stock/Broth
  • Broth Flavoring
  • Natural Beef or Chicken Flavoring
  • Spices
  • Natural Seasoning

For more information on Excitotoxins, read "Excitotoxins, the Taste that Kills" by Russel L. Blaylock


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