Nutrasweet linked to leukemia and lymphoma

(NaturalNews) Research has shown a connection between lymphoma, leukemia, and aspartame as far back as 2005. The FDA approved this synthetic sweetener for use in 1981. Currently used in over six thousand products, aspartame is sold under many different brand names, including NutraSweet, Equal Measure, and Spoonful. It can be found in soda, desserts, yogurt, and even in chewable vitamins.

In the first year after its approval, the FDA received over 600 consumer complaints about health issues. Migraine headaches and dizziness, insomnia, joint pain, memory loss, hives, rash, abdominal cramping, hallucinations, seizures and even deaths were reported related to aspartame consumption. The FDA contacted the Center for Disease Control who did not find any consistent issues. Recently, in the spring of 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also concluded that aspartame showed no carcinogenic potential at the allowable daily intake (ADI) of 40/mg/kg.

Over 900 studies have been published on aspartame, including one in May 2009 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. This recent article investigated the link between formaldehyde and lymph cancer. A study in 2007 on rats showed that aspartame ingestion caused formaldehyde buildup to such a degree that the rat's skin became yellow.

Since 1987, formaldehyde has been listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a probable human carcinogen. Used as an embalming agent, formaldehyde has been indicated in birth defects, and in environmental allergies. It has been shown to cause both lymphoma and leukemia in lab rats and in humans. It is known that aspartame turns into formaldehyde in the body, but it has been thought that this formaldehyde was then being eliminated quickly. However, a study in 1998 demonstrated that dietary aspartame binds to tissues in protein. It was found in liver, kidney, and blood. The report suggested that the buildup of aspartame was cumulative; that is, it continues to build up without being excreted, causing more damage over time. This report concluded that "aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde adducts."

Based on these findings, it is wise to avoid aspartame and artificial sweeteners. Even sugar is a better alternative than the substitute. Drink regular sodas instead of diet, or even better, diet soft drinks can be replaced with club soda mixed with a few ounces of fruit juice. Use honey or molasses to sweeten foods and to bake. Though aspartame has government safety approval, the facts and the studies suggest that avoiding aspartame is good for your health.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...

http://dorway.com/dorwblog/?p=1943

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/e...

MSG- the new "nicotine"

(NaturalNews) Monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG, is a common food additive. It`s toxic and physically addictive. Fast food companies and other food manufacturers use MSG as a "flavor enhancer," so consumers will become "hooked" on their products and keep dishing out money for more. When people consume unhealthy foods containing MSG, they often gain weight and feel sluggish, and some also experience "MSG symptom complex." The symptoms can include headaches, chest pain, heart palpitations, nausea, and other heath problems.

Although MSG is normally associated with Chinese food, processed meats, and salty snacks, it`s also frequently found in bouillon cubes, canned soups and vegetables, barbecue sauce, salad dressing, and virtually every other processed food you eat. "Monosodium glutamate," or "MSG," won`t likely be listed in a products` ingredient list. It`s often disguised as calcium caseinate, gelatin, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extracts, "spices," or "natural flavorings."

Toxic Traps
Unfortunately, MSG is not the only toxin we`re exposed to on a regular basis. Toxic substances are in everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe to the water we bathe in to the products we clean with. Common toxins include PCBs and other industrial compounds, heavy metals, chlorine and other chemicals, molds, antibiotics, hormones, dioxins, and cancer-causing toxins found in meat and milk.

We absorb toxins and store them in our body fat. When you build up a lot of toxins, your liver becomes sluggish and doesn`t function properly. As a result, your organs stop metabolizing fat effectively and you gain weight. The more toxins you accumulate, the more weight you gain. And the more you weigh, the more toxins your body will store. It`s a viscous cycle.

The human body is designed to metabolize and "flush out" toxins, but since we take in such huge amounts, our bodies become overwhelmed and cannot properly process and eliminate all the harmful substances we amass.

Simple Ways to Detox your Life
It may seem like it is impossible to avoid MSG and other poisonous substances. While it is difficult to avoid toxins entirely, you can greatly reduce the amount of toxins you consume by eating organic vegetarian foods, especially fresh and frozen produce, whole grains, legumes, and other wholesome foods.

Eat fiber-rich foods, including brown rice and organically-grown beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, and broccoli, which are known as "detoxifying foods." Because organic foods are grown without the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers, you`ll take in far fewer toxic chemicals. And, of course, since fruits and vegetables are naturally cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat, they`re healthier overall.

Organic meat is produced without antibiotics or growth hormones; however, it is not free of harmful dioxins, because animals absorb dioxins from the environment and store them in their flesh. When people eat animal products, they absorb the dioxins and other toxins that had built up in the animals` bodies. In fact, 95 percent of human dioxin exposure comes from red meat, dairy products, and fish. (The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has even urged school lunch programs to offer fewer animal fats so that children aren`t exposed to so many dioxins.) Fortunately, there are no dioxins in grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods.

You can also help flush toxins from your body by drinking water, green tea, and taking herbs that protect the liver, namely dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle. Because vitamin C helps the body produce glutathione, a compound in the liver that drives away toxins, you can also benefit from eating citrus fruits, kiwi, spinach and other leafy green vegetables, and other foods rich in vitamin C. (And it goes without saying that you should stay away from highly toxic things like alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes!)

To detoxify your life even more, choose "green" cleaners and natural beauty products rather than chemical-based ones. Simply by shopping and eating smarter, you can drastically reduce the amount of toxins you take in.

And by buying natural products and organic, locally-grown fruits and vegetables, you`ll not only reduce your exposure to toxins, you`ll also help support farmers and companies that already promote healthful, sustainable living. That helps detox your body and your conscience.

References:

MayoClinic.com, "Nutrition and Healthy Eating," Zeratsky, Katherine, R.D., L.D.
"Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Is it harmful?" http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mo...

Wikipedia.org, "Monosodium Glutomate," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoso...

Wikipedia.org, "Toxin," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxin

GoVeg.com, "Dioxins," http://www.goveg.com/contamination_...

Institute of Medicine: Food and Nutrition Board, News From The National Academies, "Report Recommends Steps to Reduce Dietary Dioxin Exposure," July 1, 2003. http://www8.nationalacademies.org/o...

MSG- The addiction you never knew you had !

http://eyesonthelies.com/2009/01/14/monoso...r-knew-you-had/


Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - The Addiction You Never Knew You Had

by MoreRockin on Jan.14, 2009, under Health

Associated Content
Marry Moss

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly used in foods we eat every day. MSG has been used for close to one hundred years to enhance the flavor of foods. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) classified MSG as a food ingredient and has deemed it “generally recognized as safe.” Glutamate is a natural substance that is found in meat, vegetables, poultry and milk. The human body also produces glutamate naturally. Glutamate in the body plays an important role in normal functioning of the nervous system

How Does Monosodium Glutamate Act In The Body?

Some of us may have thought Monosodium Glutamate is a preservative or contains some nutritional value. The truth is it does nothing to food aside from enhancing the flavor. In fact, MSG is an “excitotoxin” or neurotoxin that has a degenerative effect on the brain and nervous system.

Monosodium Glutamate enters the brain through membranes in the mouth and enters the bloodstream as foods containing MSG are digested. MSG is created artificially using processes that break down and change natural-bound glutamate, which the body produces, into free forms of glutamate. These free glutamates can sometimes enter the bloodstream up to 10 times faster than bound or natural glutamates.

Over the last fifty years, food processors have steady increased the amount of MSG added to foods. One of the primary and most consistent effects of MSG and other excitotoxins is triggering “an insulin/adrenalin/fat storage/food craving response.” That response is what causes the, “I’m hungry again an hour after I eat Chinese food,” quandary. It is also why some of us crave potato chips and other snack foods that contain monosodium glutamate, even though we’re full.

What Are the Effects of Monosodium Glutamate on the Body?

In a report, “Sensory And Autonomic Nerve Changes In The Msg-Treated Rat : A Model Of Type II Diabetes” by Morrison JF, Shehab S, Sheen R, Dhanasekaran S, Shaffiullah M, Mensah-Brown E At UAE University, we learn, “There was also a significant increase in adrenal adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin, largely attributable to changes of weight of the adrenal gland in the MSG animals. 5. The results indicate that MSG-treated animals develop a form of Type II diabetes by about 60 weeks of age.”

America is experiencing an obesity epidemic! If rats become obese through consumption of unnatural amounts of monosodium glutamate, it’s not a big leap to attribute the same response in the human body. The fact of the matter is, MSG causes us to crave the foods processed with MSG-and a majority of processed and prepackaged foods now contain monosodium glutamate. In fact, monosodium glutamate is a crucial ingredient in low-fat and non-fat foods since much of the natural flavors are lost when oil extracted.

One characteristic of the obesity induced by excitotoxins is that it doesn’t appear to depend on food intake. This could explain why some people cannot diet away their obesity,” according to Dr. Russell L. Blaylock in his book Excitotoxins.

What Foods Contain MSG?

The average person eats much more glutamate than what is considered to be a safe and normal amount in the typical American diet. You may not see Monosodium glutamate or MSG on the list of ingredients in many of the foods you buy. That’s because the food industry has figured out other names for monosodium glutamate! Beware! When these words appear on the label, the food product contains MSG: monopotassium glutamate, hydrolyzed plant protein, yeast extract, autolyzed plant protein, glutamic acid, sodium caseinate, autolyzed yeast, textured protein, gelatin, calcium caseinate. Even some so-called natural or healthy foods contain monosodium glutamate labeled as yeast extract.

Foods that often contain MSG or create MSG during processing will be listed as: natural pork flavoring, bouillon, natural beef flavoring, whey protein concentrate, whey protein, whey protein isolate, maltodextrin, ultra-pasteurized, barley malt, protease, protease enzymes, soy sauce, soy protein, anything protein fortified, natural flavor(s), seasonings.

The pharmaceutical industry also uses MSG, and sugar, to improve the taste of some otherwise bitter drugs. Monosodium glutamate was used in powdered baby formula until the 1960’s when it was determined MSG had detrimental neurological impact on the brain of infants.

What Are the Symptoms of MSG Allergy or Sensitivity?

Often MSG reactivity is called the “Chinese Food Syndrome” because of the physical symptoms that some people often experience after eating Chinese food. Some of the most common symptoms of MSG sensitivity or allergy include headache, sometimes called MSG headache, flushing, numbness or tingling in or around the mouth, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, muscle tightening, or lightheadedness, migraines and even mood changes.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Monosodium Glutamate Consumption?

Studies have been somewhat inconclusive, though many in the scientific community believe that some neurological orders and behavioral issues may be caused by monosodium glutamate. Attention deficit disorder, anxiety attacks, neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia, MS, Parkinson’s and even autism may be caused by or intensified by severe allergy or sensitivity to monosodium glutamate.

The only way to ensure limited consumption of monosodium glutamate is to eat food that is not highly-processed or prepackaged, avoid Chinese foods, and foods that contain any of the ingredients provided in this article. Eat foods that are as close to their source as possible. Learn to use spices and creatively combine foods to achieve full-flavored, satisfying meals.

Stay away from hidden MSG !

(NaturalNews) The safety of MSG is a controversial issue that deserves much more attention, debate and discussion within the health industry, the mainstream media and the public. Independent researchers, experts and whistle-blowers claim that MSG functions not only as a flavor enhancer, but as a harmful neurotoxin that has adverse effects in the short term and long term for much more than 2% of the public. However, the FDA regards MSG as generally safe and claims that only 2% of the public suffers from adverse reactions to it. They allow many companies, such Kraft, Pringles and Campbell's Soup, to hide it in seemingly benign ingredients without including it on the label. In many ways, the FDA has been part of a cover-up of hidden MSG in many food and beverage products as well as a cover-up of MSG's potential health risks. The public deserves the right to have proper labeling of MSG and to be completely aware of its many health risks in order to make fully informed decisions.

The terms "MSG" and "Processed Free Glutamic Acid" can be used interchangeably because they`re essentially and functionally equivilant. Sodium has no function in MSG other than to turn it into the salt form commonly known as monosodium glutamate. The only way a smart consumer can avoid it is by knowing the list of ingredients that contain or result in MSG.

Food and beverage companies often use Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG) as a cheap flavor enhancer. However, according to independent studies and researchers/insiders such as neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock, ex-food processing scientist and engineer Carol Hoernlein (www.msgtruth.org), consumer advocate Debbie Anglesey (www.msgmyth.com), Dr. John W. Olney, and MSG activists and investigators Jack Samuels & Dr. Adrienne Samuels, the founders of the Truth in Labeling Campaign (www.truthinlabeling.org), Processed Free Glutamic Acid is also a harmful neurotoxin and excitotoxin that leads to and/or worsens many health problems ranging from headaches, migraines, mood change, nausea, pains in joints/bones, sleep disorders, chronic post nasal drip, heart irregularities and excessive perspiration to Asthma, ADD, Depression, Obesity and many more. It is also implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Lou Gehrig`s (ALS), Parkinson`s and Alzheimer`s.

According to the FDA and The Glutamate Association (see www.msgfacts.com), MSG is regarded as natural and generally safe. The FDA`s wordy rules and regulations treat bound glutamate and free glutamate as one despite that free glutamate is processed and more harmful to your health than bound glutamate, which is found in protein that had not been processed by manufacturers or through fermentation. Jack Samuels commented that "the staff at the FDA are unbelievably fantastic in their ability to write in a way that deceives the public, but loosely based on fact. We refer to such writing as half truths. Read the FDA points carefully and you will see how MSG can be hidden in foods." The FDA has not returned phone calls to comment about this important matter yet.

Please feel free to watch this 60 Minutes segment about hidden MSG from 1991.

The FDA allows companies to hide Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG) in many seemingly benign ingredients without disclosing its presence or precise quantity on labels. Moreover, the FDA considers all of those ingredients to be natural even though they contain the artificial chemical, Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG).

The following ingredients always contain various amounts of unlabeled Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG):

Autolyzed yeast
Calcium caseinate
Dry milk powder
Dry mily protein
Gelatin
Glutamate
Glutamic acid
Hydrolyzed corn gluten
Hydrolyzed soy protein
Hydrolyzed wheat protein
Monopotassium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate
Natrium glutamate
Sodium caseinate
Textured protein
Yeast food
Yeast nutrient

The following ingredients often contain or result in various amounts of unlabeled Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG):

Barley malt
Bouillon
Broth
Carrageenan
Citric acid
Corn Starch
Corn Syrup
Enzymes
Flavors/Flavoring
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Maltodextrin
Malt extract
Malted Barley
Malt flavoring
Natural chicken flavoring
Natural beef flavoring
Natural flavors/flavor
Natural pork flavoring
Pectin
Protein fortified food
Seasonings
Soy protein isolate
Soy protein or soy protein concentrate
Soy sauce
Stock
Ultra-pasteurized
Whey
Whey protein
Whey protein concentrate
Whey protein isolate

Regardless of whether or not Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG) is safe, why doesn`t the FDA require companies to disclose it on food/beverage labels? Why does the FDA consider MSG to be natural? Why isn`t the list of ingredients that contain MSG fully exposed to the public, students, doctors and the mainstream media? Why are food and drugs regulated by the same administration and not separate ones? What will it take to bring accountability and democracy into the health industry?

When asked whether the public has the right to know all sides of the issue of MSG so that they can make fully informed decisions, Heidi Rebello, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs at the FDA, replied, "Yes, of course. Why wouldn`t they?" In reality, though, the public doesn`t know all sides of the issue given the cover up of hidden MSG and all of its health hazards. Recall that the FDA had once were part of the cover-up claiming that cigarettes were safe for the public.

Please feel free to continue consuming McDonald`s, Burger King, Dorito`s, Pringles, Pepsi, Entenmann`s, Snapple, Glaceau Vitamin Water and Campbell`s Soup if you desire to, but at least consume it while knowing all of the risks to your health. Do you trust independent studies/researchers or the FDA? Would you take the health risks to consume a food or beverage that has MSG, a controversial, potentially toxic ingredient, even if it`s allowed to be hidden on labels? Do you believe that the FDA is truly living up to its mission statement (click here)? Decide for yourself, do the research, and, most importantly, ask questions.