Obesity

- Is There A Trigger In Our Diet?
- Excitotoxins and High Fructose Corn Syrup

by Royce Bailey M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.C.

Additives

Food processing tactics are changing constantly. New chemical additives are being introduced to improve shelf life, enhance color, enhance flavor and improve the mouth feel (texture), all the time. It staggers the mind that these different additives, preservatives, artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners might interact with our bodies to cause us harm.

MSG Triples Insulin Release

Does MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) really cause a tripling of the production of insulin the pancreas makes? The FDA has declared MSG safe in any amount. But the answer is, YES! Too much insulin causes you to eat more so don’t get hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). My patients with hypoglycemia consume larger amounts of refined carbohydrates than they normally would, to counteract the over production of stimulated insulin. The more insulin you produce in your life time, the harder it is on your body and it causes you to age quicker, researchers report.

MSG’s In Everything?

MSG is in most processed foods either labeled as MSG or as one of these ingredients: autolyzed yeast, calcium or sodium caseinate, gelatin, hydrolyzed protein, yeast extract, textured protein, carrageenan, vegetable gum, seasonings, spices, flavorings, natural flavorings, chicken flavoring, beef flavoring, bouillon, pork flavoring, smoke flavoring, broth, stock, barley malt, malt extract, malt flavoring, whey protein, whey protein isolate, soy protein, whey protein concentrate, soy sauce, soy protein isolate,  soy protein concentrate and soy extract.

Why Add MSG?

MSG is always present in any gelatin-encapsulated vitamin or supplement. It is in soups, chips/Doritos, Top Ramen, boxed helpers/mixes, gravy, frozen dinners, and salad dressings (especially the low fat ones). It is used at Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, TGIF, Chilis’, Applebees, KFC and Denny’s. Why is MSG added to our foods? To make us eat more. The MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products. It is like nicotine in our food. It makes people chose their product over another and eat more of their product than if it didn’t have MSG in it. Thus, MSG causes obesity and it is addictive! MSG is being added in larger and larger doses to prepackaged meals, soups, snacks and fast foods to make us eat more.

MSG Is Addictive

Monosodium glutamate is a neurotransmitter. Glutamate is a highly regulated chemical of the nervous system, and a proper balance is necessary for healthy brain and organ function. In fact, every major human organ is now known to contain glutamate receptors. Overstimulation of these receptors—in the brain or elsewhere—can lead to numerous health problems, many of which may mimic other disorders (such as fibromyalgia or heart arrhythmia), but can go undiagnosed for decades, all the while creating a life of misery and disability for the hypersensitive sufferer.

Are You Excitotoxin Sensitive?

Many of us may be suffering needlessly because of so-called "safe" food additives, namely excitatory neuro-transmitters (nicknamed excitotoxins). The main ones are monosodium glutamate (MSG), aspartame, and L-cysteine. They can contribute to a positive review of your body systems and include:

headaches, migraines, stomach upset, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma attacks, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, partial paralysis, mental confusion, anxiety or panic attacks, balance difficulties, neurological disorders (mimics Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, Alzheimer’s), heart attack-like symptoms, behavioral disorders (especially in children and teens), allergy-type symptoms, skin rashes, mood swings, runny nose, bags under the eyes, flushing, mouth lesions and depression.

Artificial Sweeteners

If you’re drinking or eating diet (sugar free) drinks or foods, studies have shown that you will eat more and gain more weight over time; when we thought it would help us lose weight. The reason is because artificial sweeteners increased both your hunger and appetite. Sweeteners that cause you to still be hungry after eating are: saccharin (Sweet and Low®; pink packs), aspartame (Nutrasweet® and Equal®; blue packs), Stevia Extract (green packs), and Splenda® (yellow packs). New artificial sweeteners are introduced every few years and are quickly blended into everything from soft drinks to pancake mix. So, if you want to lose some weight read the labels and avoid these substitute sweeteners.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

In 1996, HFCS was introduced into our foods. A sudden increase in obesity and diabetes has been seen since then, worldwide. HFCS causes an increased danger of heart disease, stroke, premature aging, inflammatory conditions and gouty attacks. HFCS is the number 1# sweetener in the U.S. with sales over $4.5 billion dollars a year. The average American consumes 62 pounds of HFCS a year (year 2002). It is also found in ketchup, relish, cookies, jelly, syrups, baked goods, fruits and desserts.

Leptin And Ghrelin

Your body processes HFCS much differently than it does plain beet or cane sugar. When sugar is ingested the pancreas releases insulin, which helps move the sugar from the blood stream into cells. The insulin also causes fat cells to release the compound leptin, which results in the feeling of “fulness” and, at the same time, prevents the release of a compound from the stomach called ghrelin which makes a person feel hungry. Fructose doesn’t trigger the release of leptin from fat cells, or suppress the release of ghrelin. Therefore, with HFCS products you may never feel satisfied or full and you may stay hungry despite consuming a large amount of calories. One can see how this could cause an increase in caloric intake and ultimately unwanted weight gain. Put another way, consuming foods and drinks with HFCS increases your hunger, causes you to eat more than you normally would, which in turn causes you to gain weight.

HFCS Increases Your Changes Of Diabetes

HFCS does not have a first pass liver blood sugar rise, like table sugar. HFCS, more so than glucose, is converted by the liver into triglycerides. High triglycerides levels tend to increase levels of LDL cholesterol (bad), lower levels of HDL cholesterol (good) and block insulin receptors. Persistent high triglyceride levels correlate with insulin resistance, a procurer of diabetes.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) And HFCS

10-20% of the US suffers from IBS. IBS is defined by having a non pathological cause of bowel complaints which include:

• abnormal stool formation-alternating hard or loose stool,
• abnormal frequency-either more than three per day or fewer than three per week,
• abnormal stool passage-straining, extreme urgency, or feeling of not being able to completely evacuate,
• passage of mucous,
• bloating or feeling of being bloated.

Dr. Choi Young, of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, tested 183 people over two years. He consistently found that each of the symptoms of IBS could be triggered with an increased use of HFCS and would disappear by avoiding HFCS. He felt that 30-60% of all cases of IBS are related to HFCS.

A Work Of A Life Time

“All our habits, tastes, and inclinations must be educated in harmony with the laws of life and health. By this means we may secure the very best physical conditions, and have mental clearness to discern between the evil and the good.” White, E., “The Christian Race,” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 1890:28.

References:

Williams,D., “When Good Guts Go Bad,” October 2005;11(4):25-32.

Young,C., Gastroenterology, 2003;98(6):1348-1353.

www.truthinlabeling.org (MSG and artificial sweeteners)

www.nomsg.com

www.msgmyth.com

Erb J.,“The Slow Poisoning Of America” www.spofamerica.com.