Functional Neurology: MSG and Neurological Diseases

by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Nerve Injury, Neuropathy

MSG is a food additive which is found in the majority of the industrial foods. It boosts the taste of the food hence attracting customers. There is no value in terms of nutrition and it really does nothing to the eater, however, it can have many effects on foods. MSG is known as an “excitotoxin” or neurotoxin. Research studies have found that it has devastating and degenerative effects on the brain and the nervous system. The neurons or brain cells overstimulate and fatigue to their death. MSG enters the brain through the membranes in the mouth and the throat. It also enters the blood-stream through the digestion of food in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. MSG “tricks” the human body into believing that it is getting value from these foods. �

MSG is not a natural substance found in nature. It’s a man-made chemical from glutamic acid, an amino acid found in proteins. Amino acids do happen naturally in animal cells and in several plant cells. The kinds of amino acids have been processed through the change of this pure form of glutamate. Some of the materials used for this purpose include starches, molasses, and corn. The manipulation procedure generates this type of glutamate. The d-glutamate is not found naturally. The free glutamates can enter the body about eight to ten times faster compared to natural glutamates. Natural glutamate is found in foods such as tomatoes, mushrooms, and milk. Techniques used to manufacture glutamate were not in use before the 1960s. The MSG in use now is not natural. In the article, we will discuss how MSG is associated with neurological diseases. �

Research Studies on MSG and Neurological Diseases

Research studies indicate that MSG is the reason for neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuroscientists have explained that MSG attacks the blood-brain barrier of the neurons which is responsible for the regulation of the fragile chemical exchange inside the brain cells. The chemical exchange process is well balanced and its performance is unquestionable. Under normal conditions, the brain and the entire immune system manage all sorts of toxins, health issues, and stress. A very small amount of poisonous substances can actually make the brain overreact, ultimately resulting in excessive exhaustion and death, according to research studies. �

MSG is a leading “excitotoxin” and it is widely known to cause harm to the brain region which governs or controls additional systems from the human body. The damage will seem like a disease in the endocrine system and the immune system. This can be shown in the cases of food cravings, persistent hunger, and unusual sleeping patterns. This normally leads to obesity. MSG is also known to cause migraine headaches, behavioral disorders, depression, asthma attacks, heart problems, arthritis, sinus issues, and digestive issues. �

MSG is a neurotoxin which requires an extremely brief time to create a broadly diverse and dramatic effect on the human body. An individual may have a mild dose of a prescription drug and also have favorable effects. However, another individual might take the prescription drug and get sad, have a swollen tongue, stomach disorders, and joint problems. The different parts of the brain affected do govern various body functions. The part which is attacked will depend on the individual. If by way of instance, an individual has had a headache, a genetic pinch in a given portion of the brain, has had a fever that’s attacking regions of the brain, or has had a stroke, then it’s certain that the component of the brain that has been affected will be due to the toxins. �

A number of the foods sold are ultimately sold as weight loss promotions to the people. MSG, along with aspartame, is added when food substances, such as fat and sugar, are eliminated from the meals. These excitotoxins have been known to cause obesity and irregular heartbeats. FDA generally allows the labeling of MSG’S as natural flavors, hydrolyzed proteins, and autolyzed yeast, when used as just a partial ingredient in an additive rather than only MSG. Americans now are consuming 160 million lbs of MSG per year. Author and toxicologist Dr, George Schwartz asserts that two tablespoons of MSG on bread could kill a medium-sized dog within a moment. The FDA in 1995 claimed that no one can respond to less than 3 grams of MSG per meal. In spite of their confirmation, they’ve warned that children, pregnant or lactating women, and the elderly should avoid MSG. An extremely sensitive individual can also ultimately react even to under a gram of MSG. �

Effects of MSG and Neurological Diseases

Research studies have shown that from the late 1950s, an estimated amount of 12 grams per person of MSG was utilized by most Americans each year. These days, taking a look at precisely the same health issue, the quote is between 400 and 500 g per person each year. This is an amount which requires evaluation. The wide usage of MSG arrived in the mid-1970s. It gained much popularity throughout the 1980s with manufacturers of food. Two powerful excitotoxic food additives which took the food sector by storm have been the use of MSG and aspartame. MSG has been broadly associated with a wide assortment of symptoms and health issues. As previously stated, it affects the human body’s neurological system. The same ailments are being reported to be on their rise. The ailments are absolutely unexpected and difficult to describe. �

Neurological diseases associated with MSG and numbers of interest released by federal organizations have been recorded in fibromyalgia, which is a growing epidemic. Its patients eliminated aspartame and MSG during the research study conducted by the Florida University which reported complete relief of symptoms. On the other hand, the most cognitive research study was conducted to prove the connection between fibromyalgia and MSG along with several different additives as a common rheumatologic disorder. In this case, 4 patients had been diagnosed for 2 to 17 years with fibromyalgia syndrome. They had undergone various methods of therapy whilst failing to consider MSG as the causative agent. After eliminating aspartame and MSG in their diets, complete or near complete resolution of symptoms diagnosed was listed within months. The subjects were women who had recurring symptoms and multiple comorbidities. It’s therefore indicative that the excitotoxins, present in compounds, such as aspartate and MSG, become excitatory neurotransmitters once ingested and when consumed in excess may lead to neurotoxicity. These 4 patients may, therefore, signify this fibromyalgia syndrome and act as a link to conclusively establish a link to MSG. Therefore, persistent research studies, if carried out on a larger sample, might serve to connect the fibromyalgia syndrome into MSG and aspartame more concretely. Further research studies are required. �

Moreover, a research study connected MSG to adrenal adenomas. The hypothalamus which leads damage on the nerves is overstimulated by MSG. The hypothalamus is responsible for directing the pituitary gland’s actions, which can be known as the endocrine gland since it in turn directs the rest of the glands in the human body and their activities such as metabolism, development of reproductive and sex organs and other essential development functions. Statistics have demonstrated that 25 percent of Kenyans have a pituitary adenoma. However, research studies linking pituitary adenomas to MSG have ultimately been inconclusive. Some research studies had depicted this as a disease but have been proven wrong. �

About half of the pituitary adenomas secrete prolactin. These can become large over time in the optic nerve, thus, affecting vision. It also prevents ovulation and menses. This prevents pregnancy or conception generally. Furthermore, since prolactin is responsible for lactation, lactation can be caused by secretion in the individual even if they’re male or even when they were not pregnant. Men with these adenomas grow breasts. Since the tumor can only be discovered when it’s big and dangerous unlike in women that are forewarned by the effects on vision or related headaches, this problem is deadly in men. There’s a further need to sponsor more research studies so as to ultimately associate MSG and brain tumors, among others. �

Other effects which were attributed to MSG and neurological diseases are headaches and migraines, asthma, and obesity amongst others. In headaches and migraines, an approximate amount of $2.2 billion each year are being spent on drugs and/or medicines that treat head pain. This chronic condition has received a 74 percent increase. Second, asthma associated with the brain was connected to MSG. According to data, there was a decrease of asthma before the mid-eighties. Since then, however, there’s been a 100 percent gain in the rate of death among children and seniors. This prevalence has increased by 600 percent in the last 10 years. FDA has identified that uncontrollable asthma can be caused by MSG, sadly, no measures are taken to take care of the situation. In defects of birth and disorders of production, MSG was identified as a mutagen i.e. mutates fetuses. It’s reputed to cause damage to the development, reproduction, and growth patterns as well as the functions. Such research studies have not been concrete. Other consequences include emotional or neurological disorders. Laboratory research studies demonstrate devastating effects on brain development, including dyslexia, attention deficit, autism, hyperactivity, violent episodes or rage, panic attacks, depression, paranoia, seizures and cerebral palsy. Rats were utilized with this research study. However, human beings are five times more sensitive to MSG than rats. �

This topic of ailments in behavior for children is becoming a frequent discussion amongst professionals. These have associated attention deficits, behaviour, and instability to chemical imbalances occurring in the brain. It is now becoming an intense possibility that there’ll be damage caused by excitotoxins in the blood-brain barrier of young brains. �

In April 1994, a magazine article confirmed the rising problem of behavioral disorders. The magazine stated that the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder wasn’t in existence. It’s however said that it is currently affecting 3.3 million American kids. This magazine article estimates prominent research studies which 10 years ago stated that symptoms of ADHD and ADD vanished with maturity. Nowadays, however, ADD is the fastest growing diagnostic category for adults. The combination of both excitotoxins i.e. MSG and aspartame came into wide utilization in the 1980s. �

In the medical field, a controversy as to whether MSG is associated with neurological diseases has been determined. Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, has been utilized as a flavorant in the food industry for approximately 100 years and it is consumed by the masses on a regular basis today. Although the FDA, or the Food and Drug Administration, categorizes MSG as a safe food ingredient, many research studies have determined that it can cause a variety of health issues, including neurodegenerative diseases, among others. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight

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In honor of Governor Abbott’s proclamation, October is Chiropractic Health Month. Learn more about the proposal. � MSG is a food additive. It boosts the taste of food, attracting customers. There is no nutrition and it really does nothing to the eater, however, it can have many effects on foods. MSG is known as an “excitotoxin” or neurotoxin. Research studies have found that it has devastating and degenerative effects on the brain and the nervous system. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or chronic disorders of the musculoskeletal system. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 . �

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez �

Additional Topic Discussion: Chronic Pain

Sudden pain is a natural response of the nervous system which helps to demonstrate possible injury. By way of instance, pain signals travel from an injured region through the nerves and spinal cord to the brain. Pain is generally less severe as the injury heals, however, chronic pain is different than the average type of pain. With chronic pain, the human body will continue sending pain signals to the brain, regardless if the injury has healed. Chronic pain can last for several weeks to even several years. Chronic pain can tremendously affect a patient’s mobility and it can reduce flexibility, strength, and endurance.

Neural Zoomer Plus for Neurological Disease

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Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate neurological diseases. The Neural Zoomer^TM Plus is an array of neurological autoantibodies which offers specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. The Vibrant Neural Zoomer^TM Plus is designed to assess an individual�s reactivity to 48 neurological antigens with connections to a variety of neurologically related diseases. The Vibrant Neural Zoomer^TM Plus aims to reduce neurological conditions by empowering patients and physicians with a vital resource for early risk detection and an enhanced focus on personalized primary prevention. �

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