Tuesday, June 21, 2011

DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR FOOD? FIND OUT NOW!


I'm so glad you stopped by today. I have designated TUESDAYS to be my new featured post on Health.

I was sent this unbelievable article a few days ago by a close friend. Needless to say I was appalled and angry. You will understand why as you read through it. I do apologize for the length of this post, but we ALL should be aware of what is happening to our food. The more aware we are the healthier we will be!

Please pass this on to your friends and families. EVERYONE should know this information. Remember KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Let me know your thoughts....

Subject:  WARNING about MSG

All should read........I always thought I stayed away from MSG!!!!!! for allergies. Sure didn't know it is in all this stuff.
No wonder we gain weight and Just "love " the coffee , low fat salad dressings, chips, even certain soups. They ALL say they don't add MSG but they don't mention "HYDROLIZED PROTEIN " do they ?
YOU WILL BE SHOCKED when YOU read this article.        
Be extra vigilant in checking labels from now on.

The content of this article has links to substantiate its claims - Scary stuff!
MSG (a slow poison)
Very interesting

The food additive MSG (Mono-Sodium Glutamate) is a slow poison. MSG hides behind 25 or more names, such as
 
"Natural Flavoring."  MSG is even in your favorite coffee from Tim Horton's and Starbucks coffee shops!

I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic, and so did a friend of mine,
 John Erb.  He was a research assistant at theUniversity of Waterloo in OntarioCanada, and spent years working for the government.  He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called The Slow Poisoning of America.
 
In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies.  No strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so scientists have to create them. They make these creatures morbidly obese by injecting them with MSG when they are first born.
 
The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese.  They even have a name for the fat rodents they create: "MSG-Treated Rats."

When I heard this, I was shocked.  I went into my kitchen and checked the cup-boards and the refrigerator. MSG was in everything -- the 
Campbell's soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, and Kraft salad dressings, especially the "healthy low-fat" ones.

The items that didn't have MSG marked on the product label had something called
"Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein", which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate.

It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff.  MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who read the ingredient list, so that they don't catch on.  (Other names for MSG are 
"Accent",  "Aginomoto", "Natural Meat Tenderizer", etc.)
But it doesn't stop there.

When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants what menu items contained MSG.  Many employees, even the managers, swore they didn't use MSG.  But when we ask for the ingredient list, which they grudgingly provided, sure enough, MSG and
 
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere.
Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant - even the sit-down eateries like TGIF, Chili's, Applebee's, and Denny's - use MSG in abundance. Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing. and gravy.  No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin - their secret spice was MSG!
So why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat?  As a preservative, or a vitamin?

Not according to my friend 
John Erb.  In his book The Slow Poisoning of America, he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body.

Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby group supporting MSG explains that the reason they add it to food is to make people eat more.

A study of the elderly showed that older people eat more of the foods that it is added to. The Glutamate Association lobbying group says eating more is a benefit to the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us?

"Betcha can't eat [just] one," takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight!

MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products.  It makes people choose their product over others, and makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn't added.

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance.  Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago,
 MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the pre-packaged meals,soups, snacks, and fast foods we are tempted to eat everyday.The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food.  They claim it's safe to eat in any amount. But how can they claim it's safe when there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles l ike these:
"The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of exercise in obesity." Gobatto CA, Mello MA, Souza CT , Ribeiro IA. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol. 2002.
"Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats." Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro. Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug.
'
Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats: An animal model of multiple risk factors."  Iwase M, Yamamoto M, Iino K, Ichikawa K, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima.
AHypertens Res. 1998 Mar.


"usunoki. Exp Neurol. 1978 
Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in suckling period and subsequent development of obesity." Tanaka K, Shimada M, Nakao. Oct 1978.

No, the date of that last study was not a typo; it was published in 1978. Both the "medical research community" and "food manufacturers" have known about the side effects of MSG for decades.

Many more of the studies mentioned in 
John Erb's book 
link MSG to diabetes, migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, and even Alzheimer's.
So what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping this fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and causing the obesity epidemic we now see?

Several months ago, 
John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of the highest government health officials in Canada .  While he was sitting in the government office, the official told him, "Sure, I know how bad MSG is.
 
I wouldn't touch the stuff.." But this top-level government official refuses to tell the public what he knows..

The big media doesn't want to tell the public either, fearing issues with their advertisers.  It seems that the fallout on the fast food industry may hurt their profit margin.  The food producers and restaurants have been addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price for it.  Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive.

But what can I do about it? I'm just one voice!  What can I do to stop the poisoning of our children, while our governments are insuring financial protection for the industry that is poisoning us?

This message is going out to everyone I know in an attempt to tell you the truth that the corporate-owned politicians and media won't tell you.

The best way you can help to save yourself and your children from this drug-induced epidemic is to forward this article to everyone.  With any luck, it will circle the globe before politicians can pass the legislation
protecting those who are poisoning us.

The food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry.  Imagine if big tobacco had a bill like this in place before someone blew the whistle on nicotine?

If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for us and you don't believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself.  Go to the National Library of Medicine at
 
www..pubmed.comType in the words "MSG  Obese" and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear.

We the public do not want to be rats in one giant experiment, and we do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic,addicted sheep, feeding the food industry's bottom line while waiting for the heart transplant, the diabetic-induced amputation, blindness, or other obesity-induced, life-threatening disorders.

With your help we can put an end to this poison.  Do your part in sending this message out by word of mouth, e-mail, or by distribution of this printout to your friends all over the world and stop this "Slow Poisoning of Mankind" by the packaged food industry.

Blowing the whistle on MSG is our responsibility, for our health, safety and lives, so get the word out.

24 comments:

Unknown said...

No big secret here, but a very good reminder. The best way to avoid MSG is to make your own food and stop buying processed. Problem is that we have become consumed with time management and unfortunately our priorities are not meal orientated. Thanks for bringing this up!

Unknown said...

I'm never run to read the articles because I'm afraid to know what I'm eating. If I knew I'm sure I'd never eat anything and even more thin than I am to begin with.

It is good to be aware of what's going on though... I suppose. ;)

Ellen Brickley said...

I have been convinced for years I have an intolerance to MSG - if I eat a lot of foods that are heavy in it, I feel ill and sluggish and I suffer from heart palpitations. Horrible, horrible stuff.

For European readers, look out for the additive E621 on food labels. That's MSG.

Thanks for posting, Michael, an interesting read.

erica and christy said...

We don't go out to eat very often, but when we do, it's most often to those chinese buffets, which are notorious for their high-MSG content. Which doesn't stop us because it's really, really good (and, apparently, addicting).
erica

Sylvia Ney said...

This is exactly the kind of thing I learned about while pregnant - very scary for an expectant mom!

Summer Ross said...

If it is in nearly everything then that makes it very difficult to stay away from when you have a schedule like mine. Crazy scary, but somehow not surprising.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's scary. Glad we don't eat a lot of pre-packaged foods since that seems to be where a lot of it comes from. Ever see the movie Food Inc.? That will scare you as well.

Golden Eagle said...

I had heard about MSG before--it's scary, the things that are in the everyday food we eat.

Johanna Garth said...

Have you read Michael Pollan's book the Omnivore's Dilemma-if not I bet you'd enjoy it.

Karen Martin Sampson said...

So glad you are becoming a more aware consumer, especially regarding what you put in your body. My husband and I have been vegetarians for many years and great label readers. No preservatives or additives are allowed in our household. We also refuse flouride - it is also a poison and is not even all the great at preventing cavities (you can look it up). We turned VEGAN a few months ago and no more dairy or any animal products are in our diet. Feeling GREAT and very healthy. There are so many fab vegan recipes out there and be sure to use organic foods whenever possible. We grow some of our own food and take the time to make our own bread and snacks. Even a busy person can do this if motivated enough. Recheck priorites. What kind of life style do you really want or need? Read "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer for a look at the horrors of the food industry. The mega companies like Monsanto are trying to take over all food items - even recently tried to get laws passed disallowing person backyard gardens!! Or collecting of rain water in S. America by local peoples. Didn't get anywhere but the fact they tried is downright scary. Have fun and buy a good Vegan cookbook like "Veganomican" or "30 Minute Vegan". Eat this way at least part of the time if you can't give up your meat or dairy entirely.

The Words Crafter said...

Hey Michael! Just popped in for a second and WOW! What a topic! Funny, since I fell of my sodium wagon. Paying for it now with wicked migraines, but I'm back on the wagon and even more so now. I knew MSG was bad, but I had no idea how bad. And I wasn't aware, either, of it's code names. Gonna put this on my fb and email it to people. Thanks for the post!

I hope you're doing well and taking care of yourself. What a year, huh?

Heather said...

Yikes this is really scary! I try so hard to eat healthy but I can't stay away from processed foods completely and I know it's bad for me. I'm sure those kinds of things have MSG! Thank you for this!

Deniz Bevan said...

There're way too many additives in everything! Tried to buy some goat cheese this afternoon and it took me forever to find one that had only cheese as ingredients. The others had guar gum, added salt, and all kinds of other stuff in it. I mean, what?

dolorah said...

Well, that would cut out my entire eating menue. I stopped reading labels a long time ago. Everything has an adverse effect on the mental and physical health.

But, I'm not willing to grow my own food.

This is a good topic though; many people are concerned. I'm glad you started this series.

........dhole

Autumn Shelley said...

Hi Michael,
Thanks so much for the post. I've been telling people for years that MSg is not healthy, and while I knew it's often hidden in the "other spices" label, I didn't know about the hydrolyzed vegetable protein, but you know what, I only had to go as far as wikipedia to double check it. Gah!
I'm reposting to my blog site as well!! (And forwarding to a very good friend!)

Trisha said...

This is really scary Michael! But thanks for posting about it.

Sue said...

I was at a lecture last week saying similar things about hidden sugars in processed foods. Have a look at the labels for that too if you want a double shock. The best way to save yourself from these poisons is to buy fresh and prepare your own scrumptious meals and don't play into the hands of the mass marketing food industry. They're not fussed about your health - they're ONLY concerned with greater profits and increased consumption. The most effective way to fight back is to withdraw your patronage completely.

Anonymous said...

Although I'm known to have, ahem, chocolate addictions. I am pretty conscious of things like salt, processed sugars, and flour. And, yeah. MSG. Not good.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I had no idea MSG was so bad. Ay carajo

N. R. Williams said...

Wow! I am running into the other room to have my daughter come and read this. Scary.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

ali cross said...

I did not want to read that at all. :( I feel like I'm in an uphill battle against my weight the food I eat . . . ugh. And to think that I can't even trust what I read on the label even when I *am* trying to be good. Sigh.

Unknown said...

When I was little my aunt was all paranoid about MSG, wouldn't touch anything that had it, so even though I had no idea what the big fuss was about, I grew up knowing that MSG = bad. I knew about it being related to allergies, but I DIDN'T know it was linked to obesity (and I call myself a scientist! Though to be fair my field of study was very different...). The vast majority of my meals are home-cooked so I think I'm ok there. As long as they don't put it in chocolate!

Nicki Elson said...

I'm sorry to say this doesn't surprise me at all. :/ The addictive claim does a little. But like everything else, I try to ingest convenience foods in moderation and now I'll double those efforts. Thanks for the tip.

Carol Riggs said...

Yep, scary stuff. Almost all canned soups have MSG. And if it's in fast foods, no wonder people eating a predominantly fast-food diet gain weight! (as in the documentary, Supersize Me) Yuck. Eating out isn't good for ya; you have limited control over what you're ingesting.