HOW TO FIND HIDDEN MSG IN FOOD LABELS

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is used as a flavor enhancer in countless processed foods. But while it enhances your food’s flavors, it is also at work doing potential damage to your brain and body.

MSG is an excitotoxin, a type of chemical transmitter that allows brain cells to communicate. The problem is that excitotoxins can literally excite your brain cells to death. Aside from harming your brain, MSG has also been linked to eye damage, headaches, fatigue, obesity, disorientation and depression.

Children are most at risk from MSG. The blood brain barrier, which keeps toxins in the blood from entering the brain, is not fully developed in children. MSG can also penetrate the placental barrier and affect unborn children as well. Nonetheless, most major brands of infant formula contain some processed free glutamic acid (a form of MSG).

As cautious as you may try to be about eliminating MSG from your diet, this toxin has many aliases. Becoming familiar with the hidden names of MSG can help you determine what foods to avoid. Here is just a sampling of ingredients that contain MSG (the link below has a full list):

• Gelatin
• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
• Yeast Extract
• Malted Barley
• Rice Syrup or Brown Rice Syrup

Also, many restaurants add MSG to their menu items, so when eating out always be sure to tell your server that you don't want MSG added to your food.

For more information visit: Truth In Labeling - The whole truth about MSG