Excitotoxins were the subject of ANM this week.
Dr. Blyweiss wrote an eye-opening article called Are You Excited? last Wednesday. The article discuses the dangers of consuming food additives, or excitotoxins, like monosodium glutamate (MSG) and aspartate (artificial sweeteners).
Food manufacturers use these food additives to enhance taste. They’re most often found in heavily processed foods like soups, snacks, sauces, diet foods, and gravies.
Researchers believe excitotoxins are dangerous because they over stimulate neuron receptors. This overstimulation of neuron receptors destroys significant numbers of brain cells and can lead to serious health problems including neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
Artificial sweeteners may also damage DNA. Acesulfame-K, aspartame, and saccharin trigger breaks in DNA strands. The damage to the DNA strands can lead to serious health problems including cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Some other problems that have been associated with excitotoxins are: headaches, water retention, skin problems, and other health complaints.
Here are some common MSG foods to avoid:
Potato chips
Flavored crackers
Canned soups
Dry soup mixes
Canned meats
Diet foods
Soy sauces
Salad dressings
Cured meats
And poultry injected with broth
Unfortunately, food additives tend to be so prevalent in our food supply that it’s extremely difficult to avoid them completely.
Do your best to reduce your intake as much as possible and you may also want to consider taking supplements to help neutralize their impact. Vitamin C, E, K, D, beta carotene, magnesium, zinc, and selenium help shield cells by protecting glutamate receptors from excessive excitotoxin absorption.
The very best thing you can do to avoid the harmful effects of excitotoxins is make sure to eat a diet full of fresh, whole foods.
If you have any questions about excitotoxins or how you can fight their harmful effects, please send us an email. Or if you would like to add anything, please leave a comment below!
