Fibromyalgia Diet - Avoiding MSG 

MSG will futher slow down an already sluggish thyroid in those who suffer from Fibromyalgia.

One hieroglyph found in an ancient Egyptian tomb reads, “One-quarter of what you eat keeps you alive. The other three-quarters keeps your doctor alive.” I can’t help but believe that this is some type of ancient Egyptian prophecy pointing to MSG.

MSG is an inexpensive, great-tasting brain toxin. Because it makes their products taste so good, food producers are eager to use MSG as a food additive. You may think that you are avoiding MSG if you avoid Chinese restaurants, but this flavor enhancer actually is in almost every bottle, bag, or can on your supermarket shelves.

MSG is a nervous system stimulant and intolerance to it is not just an allergic reaction, but a powerful drug reaction. This reaction may mimic autoimmune disorders such as Fibromyalgia and can occur anytime from ten minutes to 48 hours after eating MSG-laced food. Even the FDA admits that MSG has been proven to induce asthma attacks in certain individuals because MSG causes a histamine response and the histamine increases inflammation. Additionally, over 85% of people studied with Type I Diabetes have tested positive for antibodies to MSG. In other words, they are allergic to it.

The toxin MSG also contributes to hypothyroidism by damaging the hypothalamus of the brain, which indirectly causes reduced thyroid production. Symptoms of reduced thyroid production (hypothyroidism) vary from person to person, but may include feeling cold, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, mood swings, difficulty losing weight, PMS, heavy periods, dry skin and hair, brittle nails, headaches, hair loss, difficulty with memory and concentration, constipation, low libido, frequent infections, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Avoiding MSG and the problems it brings means being a super-savvy consumer. Increased public awareness to the dangers posed by MSG has forced manufacturers to “hide” it on the label. MSG can legally be listed by more than 40 different names on a food label. Food labels can be misleading or even downright deceitful. The government allows a label to claim “No Added MSG” or “No MSG”, but still have a high MSG content if the ingredients are naturally high in MSG.

Besides Monosodium glutamate and MSG, this additive may be listed as Monopotassium glutamate, Glutamate, Glutamic acid, Gelatin, Calcium caseinate, Textured protein, Hydrolyzed protein, Yeast food, Autolyzed yeast, Spices, Yeast extract, or Yeast nutrient.

Anything listed on the label as a type of “flavoring” or “natural flavoring” might contain MSG; so can any form of “bouillon.” The word “seasonings” can mean MSG has been added. Any ingredients that have any form of “soy,” “protein,” “enzymes,” “Carrageenan,” “pectin,” or “Maltodextrin” in it may also have hidden MSG. Foods that are ultra-pasteurized or fermented can also hide MSG. Unfortunately, the earlier a questionable ingredient appears on a label, the higher the likelihood that the food contains MSG.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and nothing that I say should be taken as medical advice, nor has it been evaluated by the FDA.

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