[This is an outline for a speech I did for class on February, 16th, 1998]

 

 

START:

Do you experience migraine headaches?

Do you find that pain medications you take don’t seem to do much good?

Do you sometimes eat or drink something and then you get a strange reaction?

Is your doctor unable to find the cause of these reactions?

You are not crazy, and definitely not alone! You may be sensitive to Monosodium Glutamate - MSG - in things you eat or drink.

Now, This evening I’m going to *hopefully* inform maybe just a few of you about a couple of things.

I am going to give you an insight on:

What MSG is.

What the harmful effects are.

Where you can find MSG.

 

FIRST, what is MSG?

MSG is a neurotoxin which is used to trick the brain into thinking that the food tastes better than it actually does.

They call it a "flavor enhancer" because some food companies will use cheaper ingredients and then use this inexpensive additive to help "kick up" the
taste.

For example: Company A - 100 chickens - all natural.

Company B - 50 chickens + 5 pounds of MSG.

Who makes the bigger profit?? Company B DOES!!

Whether the consumer walks around in pain is not their concern.

 

My SECOND point tonight is to tell you WHAT THE HARMFUL EFFECTS ARE.

Ingestion of MSG is known to produce a variety of negative effects to certain people. Nobody knows why some people experience reactions and why
others do not.

But millions of people suffer from daily headaches which sometime explode into pounding migraines.

Children and adults experience unnecessary asthma attacks, unexplained sweating, and severe stages of DEPRESSION and MOOD SWINGS - all
which might be prevented by avoiding a chemical additive to their food and drink - MSG.

And many people are brought to the emergency room every day with symptoms like a heart attack, when the only thing they are reacting to is the insidious
food "flavor enhancer," known as MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE.

Some other negative symptoms include the following:

CARDIAC: Arrhythmias; Extreme drop in blood pressure; Rapid heartbeat [tachycardia]; Angina; Cardiac Arrest Symptoms.

CIRCULATORY: Swelling; Fluid Retention.

MUSCULAR: Flu-like Achiness; Joint Pain; Stiffness

NEUROLOGICAL: Depression & Mood Swings; Dizziness; Light-headedness; Disorientation; Mental Confusion; Anxiety; Panic Attacks; Hyperactivity;
Behavioral Problems in Children; Lethargy; Sleepiness; Insomnia; Numbness or Paralysis; Migraine Headache; Slurred Speech; Meniere's Disease;
Tinnitus.

GASTROINTESTINAL: Nausea; Vomiting; Diarrhea; Stomach cramps; Irritable Bowel; Bloating.

RESPIRATORY: Asthma; Shortness of Breath; Chest Pain; Tightness; Runny Nose; Sneezing.

SKIN: Hives or Rash; Mouth Lesions; Temporary Tightness or Partial Paralysis; Numbness or Tingling of the skin; Flushing; Sweating ["hot flashes"]; Dry
Mouth.

UROLOGICAL: Swelling of Prostate; Nocturia.

VISUAL: Blurred Vision; Difficulty Focusing; Temporary Loss of Vision.

All these symptoms can occur because you are experiencing TOXIC POISONING!

 

Let me say that before I realized I was sensitive to MSG, I ate everything, everywhere. And this brings me to my THIRD point:

Where do you find MSG? The answer? - VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE!

The FDA requires the food industry to label MSG if it is present as one of their ingredients. But looking for MSG on the label is not enough.

MSG is hidden under many names on the ingredient labels. This make is difficult for migraine sufferers to eliminate it from their food - or even to
determine if MSG is in fact their trigger. I have a list of some hidden names that contain MSG. I’ve got some copies if anybody would like one at the end.

The first hurdle is the food market. You just have to check to see if MSG or one of it’s hidden names is listed in the ingredients or not!

Here are just a few items that do or do not have MSG in it:

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables are safe. Although, sometimes glutamates are in the WAX that supermarkets use to give em their shine.

With the meats, you can ask the Meat department manager if the products have been altered with MSG. Usually, if the meat is cut at the store, then it is
safe.

Breads, Muffins, and Baked Items usually are fine too. But you can check with the bakery department if something isn’t clearly labeled.

And Most lunchmeats and some cheeses have MSG in them.

Sometimes even GUM may contain traces of MSG!

AND THE RESTRUANTS…. Here are a bunch of restaurants where I have obtained information about the presence of MSG in their food:

KFC & TACO BELL- nothing safe to eat there.

McDONALDS and BURGER KING- You can eat the French fries and the garden salads.

DENNY’S- most of their food is okay except for some meats and the syrup.

PIZZA- everything has MSG in it except for the salad, cheese, and the crust.

OLIVE GARDEN- most of the food here is okay, but the soups may have a chicken or beef base that may contain MSG in it.

Now, just to name a few restaurants that are completely MSG-free….

BOSTON MARKET, OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE, RUBY TUESDAY, and CHILIE’S.

 

In CONCLUSION, I want to repeat that MSG is TOXIC! If you suffer from any of the conditions previously mentioned, you may want to try a 3-week
MSG-free diet.

If your symptoms diminish, then you may be reactive to MSG.

To further prove your theory, you may wish to consume something that HAS MSG, and see if your symptoms return.

But if you know that you aren’t a type of person in which MSG bother you, just remember, that this nation is on the brink of pouring even more MSG into
our foods. Why? These glutamates cause the brain to overeat. And the food giants make even a bigger product when you....