The Basic Facts: What you don't know CAN hurt you

Here are the basic facts that you need to know about the glutamate:

1. Glutamate is a neurotoxin that leads to and/or worsens many symptoms/illnesses ranging from headaches, migranes, runny noses and excessive perspiring to Depression, Sleeping Disorders, Obesity, Asthma, Alzheimer's and Autism.

2. At least 40% of the U.S. population are sensative in various degrees to glutamate.

3. Glutamate is the functional part of MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate so that it could be easily added into products. It contains 78% glutamate.

4. Glutamate functions as:

A) A flavor enhancer which hides any bad flavors in food/beverage products while tricking your brain to make them taste saltier or sweeter.

B) An addictive chemical that makes you crave for more of the food/beverage product.

5. The glutamate added to food/beverages is called "free processed glutamate" which is much more potent and neurotoxic than the "naturally bound glutamate" found in such foods as tomatoes and parmesan cheese.

6. The FDA considers glutamate (including MSG) to be natural and GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe).

7. The FDA allows food/beverage corporations to hide various amounts of glutamate within dozens of ingredients that sound benign. They don't require corporations to measure or to label the amount of glutamate present in their food/beverage products. So you, as a smart consumer, should not only read ingredients, but learn how to interprete them.

8. The ingredients that ALWAYS contain various amounts of glutamate (a.k.a. "free processed glutamate") include:

Autolyzed yeast
Calcium caseinate
Gelatin
Glutamate
Glutamic acid
Hydrolyzed protein (any protein that is hydrolyzed)
Hydrolyzed corn gluten
Monosodium glutamate
Monopotassium glutamate
MSG
Natrium glutamate
Sodium caseinate
Textured protein
Yeast nutrient
Yeast extract
Yeast food

9. The ingredients that OFTEN contain various amounts of glutamate (a.k.a. "free processed glutamate") include:

Barley malt
Bouillon
Broth
Carrageenan
Citric acid
Corn Starch
Enzymes anything
Flavors(s) & Flavoring(s)
Malt extract
Malt flavoring
Maltodextrin
Natural beef flavoring
Natural chicken flavoring
Natural pork flavoring
PectinSeasonings (the word "seasonings")
Soy protein
Soy protein concentrate
Soy protein isolate
Soy sauce
Soy sauce extract
Stock Ultra-pasteurized
Whey protein
Whey protein concentrate
Protease
Protease enzymes
Whey protein isolate
Anything protein fortified
Anything enzyme modified
Anything fermented
Natural flavor(s) & flavoring(s)