Fact from Wikipedia and various sources were used for this article: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

What is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?

Monosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate and MSG, is a sodium salt of the non-essential amino acid glutamic acid. It is used as a food additive and is commonly marketed as a flavour enhancer. It has the HS code 29224220 and the E number E621. Trade names of monosodium glutamate include Ajinomoto, Vetsin, and Accent.

Although traditional Asian cuisine uses flavour-enhancing ingredients which contain high concentrations of MSG, it was not isolated until 1907. MSG was subsequently patented by the Japanese Ajinomoto Corporation in 1909. In its pure form, it appears as a white crystalline powder; when dissolved in water (or saliva) it rapidly dissociates into sodium cations and glutamate anions (glutamate is the anionic form of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring amino acid).

Production and chemical properties

MSG is prepared by fermentation of carbohydrate sources. Species of the genus Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium are useful. Yields of 100 g/liter can be prepared in this way. From 1909 to the mid 1960s, MSG was prepared by hydrolysis of wheat gluten, which contains about 25% of glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is one of the least soluble amino acids, thus facilitating its purification.

Like the sodium salts of other amino acids, MSG is a stable colourless solid that is degraded by strong oxidizing agents. It exists as enantiomers, but only the naturally occurring L-glutamate form is used as a flavour enhancer.

Health controversy

Monosodium glutamate as a food ingredient is the subject of a health concern controversy.

Facts about Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?

The following interview with Vincent Bollonzi M.D., D.C., C.C.N can give you some insight about some facts concerning the use of MSG and its effects on our bodies and nervous system.

Related articles:

• Aspartame – Overview
• Hidden Dangers in Our Food

Official site: Complete Wellness Center

The evidence is compelling and conclusive that at least two specific food additives are poisons. Russell Blaylock, MD, a neurosurgeon, has dedicated his life to educating the public on the dangers of food additives.  His book “Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills” is electrifying and well-researched – a must read to understand fully the impact of poisonous food additives on ourselves and our children.  The two food additives I am speaking about are monosodium glutamate (MSG) and Aspartame – NutraSweet/Equal. Glutamate and aspartame are naturally occurring amino acids used in building proteins and also function as excitatory neurotransmitters.  When they are present in excessive amounts, they stimulate neurons until they die which is why they are called excitotoxins.

- MSG is a flavor enhancer causing cravings that contribute directly to obesity and diabetes.  Worse yet it can damage your child’s brain by effecting the development of the nervous system so that years later they may have learning and emotional difficulties (ADD/ADHD/Autism), and/or hormonal problems.

- Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that may cause brain tumors and causes sugar cravings.  It breaks down to form aspartame, an excitotoxin that can cause the same brain damage as MSG.

Furthermore excitotoxins can aggravate and possibly precipitate many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and Huntington’s.  These excitotoxins are a risk if you have ever had a stroke, brain injury, brain tumor, seizure, or have suffered from hypertension, diabetes, meningitis, or viral encephalitis.

What can we do to protect ourselves and our children?  There are Natural Solutions:

1. Read food labels.  MSG is often present in foods that are not labeled as containing MSG, but do. Examples are hydrolyzed protein, gelatin (yes, commonly served in hospitals as a healthy dessert), yeast extract, textured protein, and more.  For more information, go to www.truthinlabeling.org.  If a food is labeled low fat, it almost certainly contains MSG in some form for flavor.  Low carbohydrate processed foods most likely contain Aspartame.
2. Minimize consumption of processed foods – canned, boxed, bagged, and frozen.
3. Minimize restaurant foods, not just Chinese.  They often contain MSG even though the waiter/waitress is not aware of it because MSG is often present in items listed that do not appear to contain MSG. When eating out tips: choose broiled, grilled, or steamed foods with butter, herbs, lemon, etc; oil and vinegar or lemon juice for salad dressing; and fresh fruits or sorbets for dessert.
4. Use stevia as a natural low calorie sweetener rather than Aspartame. Stevia can be purchased at health food stores as liquid or powder.
5. Increase your body’s defense against excitotoxins.

Ways to defend against excitotoxins include:

1. Increasing cellular energy, ATP, improves the ability of specialized cells to take up excess glutamate and aspartate preventing these excitatory neurotransmitters from causing nerve cell death.  ATP production is facilitated by supplementing with both carnitine and acetyl-l-carnitine.
2. Vitamin B6 lowers brain and blood glutamate.  Glutamate receptors are blocked by Vitamin B12, pyruvate, and malate.  The latter two also increase cellular energy.
3. Essential omega 3 fatty acids improve the health of mitochondria, the energy producing subcellular organelle, and cell membranes.
4. Antioxidants fight against this increase in free radicals formed by excess excitotoxins.  There are three classes of antioxidants that form a network, all of which are essential in defending against free radicals:
   • The Vitamin, Mineral, Flavonoid Network which includes Carotenoids; Vitamins C, D, E, and K; manganese, magnesium, selenium, zinc, and plant flavonoids.
   • The Enzyme Network which includes superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase.
   • The Thiol (sulfur containing) Antioxidants which include albumin, alpha-lipoic-acid, and glutathione.
5. As Linus Pauling said: You can trace every illness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency. Having an appropriate blend of absorbable minerals including essential trace minerals is protective.
6. The ill effects of MSG and aspartame can be blocked by specific energetic frequencies.

Chronic conditions or symptoms may be MSG and/or Aspartame related.  If the above suggestions do not improve your health, a visit to your natural health care provider is apt to help you optimize your health.

Continuing to allow MSG and Aspartame to be added to our foods with all the research that documents their ill effects is disturbing.   It is clear that we must be conscientious in our food choices for ourselves and for our families.

Author: Linda Hegstrand MD

Complete Wellness Ctr
2426 Burton Street SE
Suite 3
Grand Rapids,MI 49546
616.464.0470 mailto:DrLindaCWC@gmail.com

Blue Heron Academy
Medical Director