LIMIT Reduce dietary sources of inflammation-promoting omega-6s: Red meat, especially if it is produced by industrial farming techniques and if it does not carry an “omega-3†label Dairy products Eggs not marked “omega-3†Sunflower oil Corn oil Safflower oil Soybean oil Sugar Processed and fast foods Dairy and gluten may trigger inflammation, so consider eliminating them for a few weeks Harvard researchers also link sugary drinks—everything from soft drinks, sweetened teas and lemonade, fruitades, energy drinks, and even vitamin waters—to inflammation, insulin resistance, belly fat, and hypertension. Sugar is the underlying cause of so many disorders. In the early 1900s when people consumed a modest 60 pounds of sugar a year, the rates of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease were much lower than they are today. Obesity was rare. Today, Americans eat about 180 pounds of sugar—found in everything from aspirin and catsup to soft drinks and toothpaste—much of it in the form of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that carries risks far beyond overweight. HFCS contains the cumulative neurotoxin, mercury, but it also contributes to the loss of zinc – an important mineral, particularly for those with diabetes. Glutathione could be among the most important antioxidants your body produces. But keeping glutathione levels high takes work, because the antioxidant depletes rapidly as it defends against inflammation, and your glutathione blood levels decrease about 17 percent between ages 40 and 60. Turmeric, green tea extract, and sulforaphane (an extract of broccoli), turn on the genes that make glutathione. Try: Source Naturals Broccoli Sprouts Extract. 2 tablets deliver the sulforaphane benefits of 1 pound of fresh broccoli. A daily dose (up to 60 mg of sulforaphane) boosts glutathione production for up to 24 hours. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Drinking caffeinated coffee before breakfast can increase your risk of type-2 diabetes. Have your cup after a bite or two. Having some food in your stomach before drinking coffee can lessen the blood-sugar raising effects. Eat every 3-4 hours throughout the day. Strive for 3 fiber-filled meals plus 3 healthy snacks of 100 calories or less a day. Women with diabetes are 1 ½ times more likely to develop colorectal cancer. Elevated insulin levels may promote cancer growth. To protect yourself, make sure you get screenings and live a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes can impact cognitive function and significantly reduce brain weight, basically shrinking the brain itself. Recent research has shown that poorly controlled insulin (as in diabetes) not only increases the risk for cognitive impairment and dementia—but also speeds up the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). And Chinese research finds that the higher the BMI (body mass index), the greater the impairment to the brain. Diabetics have up to 65% greater risk for Alzheimer’s than healthy individuals. [i have tips for that.]

EXERCISE Exercise regularly and daily. Aim to burn 300 calories a day through exercise. You may need to workout twice a day. You can lower your diabetes risk by 60% simply by walking at least 30 minutes a day. For 18 to 24 hours after you exercise, your body becomes more sensitive to the insulin it produces, keeping your sugar levels efficiently in check and reducing your risk of diabetes. If everybody exercised a few hours a week, Type II diabetes would be virtually non-existent. Moderate Aerobic Exercise 3 days a week, combined with weight lifting 3 days a week, may slash levels of fat in the liver by up to 40 percent in people with type-2 diabetes. Higher liver-fat levels, a common side effect of diabetes, may increase the risk of heart disease. INFLAMMATION One of the main determinants of “silent†inflammations in our bodies that promote the development of Type-2 Diabetes - as well as many other symptoms - is the balance between omega-6 fatty acids (which favor inflammation) and omega-3 fatty acids (which reduce it). Since World War II, the farm animals that give us meat, butter, milk, cheese, cream and eggs are no longer nourished with grass and leaves; they are fed soy and maize instead. Grass is very rich in omega-3s, but maize contains none at all, and soy products contain very little. The animal products that we eat now are thus highly unbalanced, with far too many omega-6s and very few omega-3s. On average, people in the West have 10 to 15 times more omega-6s in our bodies than omega-3s. This is one of the reasons why all the diseases that are nourished by inflammation are in constant progression in Western countries. The omega-6s and omega-3s in our bodies come exclusively from our diet. They thus reflect exactly what we eat and drink. EAT MORE Olive oil Rapeseed oil Oily fish twice a week (sardines, anchovies, mackerel, salmon) Omega-3 eggs Nuts Lambs’-ear salad Green vegetables Linseed or flaxseed oil Flax seeds Omega-3 supplements (roughly 1g or 0.03 oz of the EPA-DHA combination – Carlson’s Fish Oil – for a more severe condition, take up to 3 grams daily and wait at least 8-12 weeks to see if you notice a difference.) Chia Seeds Ginger Fresh fruits and veggies – make sure you’re getting some of every color Turmeric Evening Primrose Oil (GLA) or from black currant seed and borage oils Take it on a full stomach in 2 divided doses, equally spaced during the day. Take up to 500 mg EPO 2-3 times daily or 2000 mg total daily Don’t use GLA if you take an antiseizure Rx. GLA supplements provide anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. These good fats also lower cholesterol and triglycerides, ease depression, reduce the risk of autoimmune disorders, and combat allergies. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid that is found mostly in plant-based oils. Omega-6 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids: They are necessary for human health but the body can' t make them -- you have to get them through food. Along with omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they help stimulate skin and hair growth, maintain bone health, regulate metabolism, and maintain the reproductive system. There are several different types of omega-6 fatty acids. Most omega-6 fatty acids in the diet come from vegetable oils in the form of linoleic acid (LA). The body converts linoleic acid to GLA and then to arachidonic acid (AA). GLA can be gotten from several plant-based oils including evening primrose oil, borage oil, and black currant seed oil. Most of these oils also contain some linoleic acid. A healthy diet contains a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and some omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. The typical American diet tends to contain 14 - 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. Not all omega-6 fatty acids behave the same. Linoleic acid and arachidonic acid (AA) tend to be unhealthy because they promote inflammation. GLA, on the other hand, may actually reduce inflammation. Much of the GLA taken as a supplement is converted to a substance called DGLA that fights inflammation. Having enough of certain nutrients in the body (including magnesium, zinc, and vitamins C, B3, and B6) helps promote the conversion of GLA to DGLA. Some preliminary clinical research suggests that GLA may be useful for the following conditions: Diabetic neuropathy Some studies show that taking gamma linolenic acid (GLA) for 6 months or more may reduce symptoms of nerve pain in people with diabetic neuropathy. People who have good blood sugar control may find GLA more effective than those with poor blood sugar control. For diabetes: Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), 480 mg daily, divided into several smaller doses throughout the day. New Chapter’s Zyflamend is said to be a great supplement Probiotics help fight inflammation and bacteria in the gut Any probiotic you take should contain at least 1-5 billion colony-forming units (CFUs). Nature’s Way Primadoophilus Optima delivers more than 35-billion CFUs. Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics 12 PLUS Culturelle Nature’s Way Probifia Pearls Enzymatic Therapy Acidophilus Pearls Jarrow

SUPPLEMENTS AND HERB TEAS I like vitacost.com and amazon - great prices and reviews I'm not saying to take them all. I still believe that diet is first and foremost. As far as supplements go, most of this list is in order of importance. Most of it. Haven't had time to fully organize it. Omega-3s: Essential fatty acids reduce triglyceride levels, a build up of which raises blood sugar levels. Take 4000 to 5000 mg daily. Carlson’s Fish Oil is my personal favorite. In one study, those with the highest vitamin D levels had the lowest risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Low levels of vitamin D in the body have been linked to impaired glucose tolerance. Because researchers have found that sunlight helps convert a compound called squalene, which is naturally present in your skin, into vitamin D3, many recommend making a point to either walk, garden, or just sit in full sunlight for 20 or 30 minutes at least 3 times a week. You don't need to stay in direct sun or lie on the beach for hours, but you do need to be outside, since exposure to sunlight through windows will not activate the formation of vitamin D. If you're under 60, take at least 2,000 IU Vitamin D3 per day. If you're 60 or over, take at least 5,000 IU per day of vitamin D3. Most people need to take a D3 supplement. Taking supplemental D3 is especially important if you: • spend most of your time indoors • have a history of low sunlight exposure • are elderly • have dark skin • take certain medications, including some anti-seizure drugs (check with pharmacist) • Most significantly, sunscreen blocks vitamin D synthesis in the skin, and in northern latitudes (above that of Atlanta, Georgia) the sun is at too low an angle for half the year to provide sufficient UV radiation. Try to take your vitamin D with a fat-containing meal to ensure absorption. Don't be concerned that 2,000 IU will give you too much. With exposure to sunlight in the summer, the body can generate between 10,000 IU and 20,000 IU of vitamin D per hour with no ill effects. In addition, no adverse effects have been seen with supplemental vitamin D intakes up to 10,000 IU daily. D3 in pill form is very poorly absorbed. Be sure to take the oil-filled gelatin capsules, and take them with a meal that contains fat to help with absorption. If you have your D3 levels tested and you’re low, you can go up to 10,000 IU per day for a couple of months, and then re-test to see if there's improvement. If you get your D3 levels tested, I think the ideal is to get them to levels of at least 60-70. Milk Thistle lowers blood sugar - can get in capsules, drop form, or as a tea Chromium and Biotin deliver glucose from the bloodstream to tissues and muscle. This combo lowers diabetics’ blood sugar levels. Take 600 to 1000 mg daily. A good one may be Enzymatic Therapy Alpha Betic Cinnamon Plus Chromium and Biotin available at Vitacost and maybe amazon Chromium improves blood sugar control, prevents glucose intolerance, fatigue, and belly fat (linked to heart disease). Diet beverages and sugar substitutes like aspartame rob the body of chromium, increasing insulin resistance. If taking chromium alone, take 400 mcg per day. Chromium is naturally available in brewer’s yeast, brown rice, prunes, nuts, unprocessed whole grains, and even black pepper - yet those with blood sugar imbalances and diabetes should take a supplement. As many as 9 out of 10 Americans are low in chromium The artificial sweetener aspartame (found in over 3,000 processed foods) can also deplete chromium, as do refining grains. Chromium makes insulin more effective in regulating blood sugar and helps fight Type 2 diabetes. Vanadyl sulfate supports healthy blood glucose levels Researchers at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, have shown that oral administration of vanadyl sulfate helps support healthy triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and proper blood glucose levels. Recommended dosage: 30 to 45 mg daily with meals Gymnema Sylvestre helps balance blood sugar This herb has been safely used for hundreds of years in India by Ayurvedic practitioners. It helps balance blood sugar levels and support the function of insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The usual recommended dose is 300 mg daily taken 15 minutes before a meal. Ginseng can help reduce blood sugar levels Research indicates that taking ginseng (particularly 200 mg) can help elevate mood, improve psychophysical performance, and reduce fasting blood sugar levels. Take 25 mg of Siberian ginseng extract, 20 mg of Panax ginseng extract, and 20 mg of Panax ginseng root daily. Mulberry Leaf Extract lessens the body’s absorption of carbohydrates Take 1 gram of mulberry-leaf extract 15 minutes to 1 hour before lunch and dinner to reduce post-meal blood-sugar spikes. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) may reverse kidney damage. Take 300 mg daily. Manganese (10 to 30 mg a day) supports mitochrondria (the energy supply in each cell) and balances mineral levels in the body L-glutamine (500 mg 3 times a day) reduces sugar cravings, metabolizes fat, and assist in the production of insulin. B complex vitamins (50 mg a day) to effectively convert starches to sugar Pantothenic acid (500 mg a day) for carbohydrate and fat metabolism Vitamin C (3,000 mg) to prevent cell death and speed wound healing, a serious concern for anyone with insulin problems like diabetes Zinc (up to 50 mg once per day) to fight dangerous free radicals, infections, and speed wound healing Zinc is essential to liver function and immunity. It also helps the beta cells in the pancreas store and release insulin. Pancreatic tissue of people with diabetes has only one-third of the zinc found in healthy individuals. Do your pancreas a favor and eat small portions of zinc-rich, sugar-free high-protein foods - eggs, grass-fed meats, and poultry. Pinnitol balances blood sugar levels and decreases insulin resistance. Fenugreek seeds improve blood sugar control and decrease insulin resistance in people with mild type-2 diabetes. You can take it in tea form and maybe in capsules. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant Can protect you from insulin-resistance and from getting type-2 diabetes – can also stop blood vessel damage caused by high blood sugar if you’re already diabetic Take at least 100 mg of trans-reseveratrol daily Resveratrol is nontoxic and there is essentially no known toxic dose – in other words, it’s not easy to overdose on it But for general prevention, stick to the recommended dosage on the label There are two forms of reseveratrol available: cis- and trans-. Trans is much better absorbed than cis, which is less expensive also. Chamomile Tea may help prevent complications from diabetes – nerve and kidney damage, as well as vision loss. Pine Bark (pycnogenol) - 150 mg daily can reduce blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetics. Also helps patients lower their blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Pycnogenol works by preventing blood clots, especially important for diabetics who often suffer from atherosclerosis and poor circulation. If you take it, let your doctor know. He may need to lower you dosage of Rx meds. Some studies say that CoQ10 is not very effective as a treatment for diabetes symptoms; others show effectiveness in treating some, but not all, symptoms. Doses range from 5 to 300 mg per day. It’s worth a try.

Sharing lots and lots of info here, because someone asked. Please share any info you may have also. She PM'd me mainly about supplements, but I'll include all my info here. She also asked about "anything that benefits the nerves" and is "especially concerned about the rate of amputation due to nerve damage." Not sure if I have much info on that. I would think that: taking care of diabetes dry body brushing exercise rebounding massage all these things would boost circulation. I do know that walking barefoot is not recommended for those with diabetes. ---- A healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight loss can reduce the incidence for Type 2 diabetes by over 50 percent. Simple lifestyle changes have been found more effective than the diabetes drug metformin—without adverse effects like diarrhea, gas, headaches, indigestion, nausea or vomiting. NUTRITION In general, the more a food is processed, the worse its effect on blood sugar and insulin! FIBER, FIBER, FIBER! Think fiber for every meal and preferably, every snack. A diet that’s highly plant-based, high-fiber, and low in the glycemic index 30 - 50 grams of fiber a day The average person gets about 12 grams of fiber a day—equivalent to a bowl of high-fiber cereal and two slices of whole-grain bread—but the recommended daily intake is 30 to 50 grams. And even that amount strikes some as too conservative. Some studies have shown that people with diabetes can benefit by eating up to 70 grams a day. Just a Few Ways to Increase Fiber Intake • Top breakfast cereal with fresh raspberries or blueberries (dried are great, too), or make a berry-based smoothie. • Slice an avocado onto your lunchtime sandwich or whip up some guacamole and use as a spread or dip. • Eat burritos, tostadas, and other bean-heavy Latin American dishes. • When it’s too time-consuming to cook fresh artichokes, add artichoke hearts to salads or pasta dishes. • Mix several kinds of cereal together to vary flavors and textures. • Cut up cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, and other vegetables and keep them in the fridge, along with a healthy dip like hummus. • Add half a cup of chickpeas to a pot of soup. • Sprinkle toasted wheat germ over cereal or yogurt. • Toss some ground flaxseed into oatmeal or fruit; it’s a good source of omega-3s, too. Have oatmeal for breakfast. A diet rich in whole grains may lower your risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. Other good sources include whole grain bread, high-fiber cereals, and brown rice. One of the best diets to delay the onset of age-related diseases is one that’s high in whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. CINNAMON One 40-day study of 60 people with type-2 diabetes found that consuming half a teaspoon of cinnamon twice daily significantly lowered subjects' blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Sprinkle it over your oatmeal or drink cinnamon tea. Most recommend one full gram of cinnamon per day. Preliminary research has shown that taking at least one gram of cinnamon a day may help you maintain normal serum glucose (blood sugar) levels. Consume less sugar. High-glycemic diets – those high in sugar or processed and refined foods – such as bagels and pasta, which convert to sugar almost instantly – raise triglyceride and increase metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease Broccoli has a compound sulforaphone, which helps the body produce enzymes that protect blood vessels, which lessens the risk of cardiovascular disease for diabetics. This is especially important, as diabetics are 5 times more likely to develop heart disease than others. Figs and Fig Leaf Tea Fig leaf tea helps support proper insulin response Researchers here have shown that fig leaf (ficus carica) tea can help maintain proper insulin levels. It can easily be made using 2 teaspoons of dried cut leaves. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the leaves, cover, and let the brew sit for 10 to 15 minutes before drinking. Drink 1 cup each morning at breakfast. Dried fig leaves can usually be purchased at your local health food store. Guava fruit supports proper blood sugar levels Guava juice has been shown to lower blood sugar levels significantly. As little as 3 ounces of juice lowered the average fasting blood sugar from 214 to 165 mL/dL, and the effect lasted for up to 3 hours. Be aware that your insulin intake may have to be monitored more carefully, and possibly even reduced, with the intake of guava fruit or juice. Walnuts Cherries—when tart—and their juice are rich in melatonin, the antioxidant hormone that regulates circadian rhythms and helps promote sound sleep—without which we’re more likely to pack on pounds and develop diabetes and heart disease. Anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic, and radioprotective, tart cherries and their juice contain more melatonin than is found in human blood, finds Russel Reiter, PhD, at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Eat them fresh or dried, and mix a bit of tart cherry juice with water, particularly when you’re working out—to lessen joint inflammation from exercise. Eating more leafy green vegetables, not fruits or any other vegetables, has been found to reduce the risk for getting type-2 diabetes, by 14%. Leafy greens are very high in magnesium – a mineral that most of us are deficient in. Magnesium has so many benefits, including reducing blood pressure, eliminating PMS, and being helpful for diabetes. Diabetics are usually magnesium-deficient. Researchers have found that the lower your magnesium intake, the higher your risk for diabetes. Most of us need a good magnesium supplement, but that should not be your only resort. Always start with improving your diet and getting your minerals from food. Increase your magnesium intake by eating more broccoli, chard, kale, spinach, and dark green lettuces. These foods also contain co-factors that may be responsible for magnesium’s ability to support blood sugar control. The amount of greens that it takes to reduce a person’s risk for diabetes in these studies is only 1.5 extra servings a day – equal to one salad. Those who eat a little more than 1 1/4 cups raw leafy greens daily have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Coconut oil is effective in staving off diabetes. It’s a medium-chain fatty acid, while most other fats are long-chain fats. This means that coconut oil burns faster than other fats so your body doesn’t store it in your tissues. If you substitute coconut oil for olive oil, butter, or other fats, you’ll lose weight because it burns fats fast. If you just add coconut oil to a high-fat diet, you’ll gain weight. The idea is to eat a low-fat diet that includes coconut oil.

Happy to report that I'm slowly losing. I hope and hope and hope that I can keep this up and keep the weight off. I'm now in the next 10's. :D Lost 19 pounds in a month. I would love something like that. :) I would love to be stuck at 141-143. In fact, that's below my ideal weight. :) I'd be delighted at 146 or so. It is so very unfair that men seem to have an easier time. My dh is the same exact weight and waist measurement as in high school and he can eat what he wants. Yes, I agree that your body must like that weight. You're doing everything right. :) Remember to be healthy, not skinny. :grouphug:

For those who love Charla Krupp's books, as do I - my favorite fashion and style books - I'm so very, very sad to just hear this. I've followed Charla for years, since college when she used to write for Glamour magazine. :( Many will miss her, most especially her family.

Interesting article and I really like her stuff.

No, Stacia, you most certainly are not. :D We had to read it when I was 11. I loathed it. :glare: Thanks :D. I haven't even started it and it will be a while before I do. Like all books, I'll give it at least 10%. :)

Loved Midnight in Paris. One of my favorite movies of the year, if not my favorite. :D Separation was good, but painful and depressing as most Iranian movies are. The only Iranian movies I like so far are Offside & Maxx. Can't wait to see Artist (thanks to you) and some others on this list. We really want to see Hugo.

I haven't started it yet and can't wait to finish it by the sound of things. Judging by what others with similar reading tastes have been saying, I think it's rather unlikely that I'll like it :tongue_smilie:. Wish I hadn't been in such a rush to purchase it. :001_huh:

I will agree or remain silent. I refuse to debate, which is often so hard to do. I then may hide their posts or remove them from my friends' list.

:D I'm waiting for the price to go down a bit for the Kindle version. Then again, I might get it very soon. :D

Jann, very well said (in fact, your whole post is great). This was my experience also. I lost lots of weight very successfully on it last year. This time around, I'm having a harder time, but the weight is still coming off. Like you, I was also very, very skeptical. Always been anti-diets. Nothing seemed to work until I tried hcg. Yes, very true. If a person does not go on P3 and P4, the weight will come back on. It's just like any other diet in that respect. Jann, sending you all the best with your next round very soon. :)

I'm no expert on Rx hcg. Only tried hhcg (homeopathic). In all my research, I've never, ever heard of such a thing. I don't believe it at all and think it's funny that anyone would. These hcg forums are very helpful.

:D :grouphug: :D You stole the words from my mouth. I was about to say something very similar when I posted ... :lol:

I LOVE books like that. If I could, every OTHER book I read would be like that. :D I love humour (I'm spelling it the way I was taught in the U.K and here in Grenada - not the way I had to almost re-learn spelling in the U.S) :lol: :grouphug:.

Cyndi, I've been thinking of you a heck of a lot lately, much more than normal, which, as you know is a lot anyway. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: This is me to a t lately. I have never felt so overwhelmed as I do these days. Not during college, grad school, or my dc's early years. :D I don't believe that it will always be this way. I strongly believe and hope that in 10 years or less, there will obviously be changes and life will be easier. I do believe that for me anyway, the computer & internet have made things worse. Yes, I use the computer for all my lists. My main list of things to do is more than 30 pages long. I have a blast categorizing them and all that. But they never, ever get done. Except for when they really and truly have to. But I think that the internet has been a mixed blessing for me. I love the connections, friendship, and all that. But it's just overwhelming and doesn't help. I often miss the days when I would just read and watch TV. Don't know if I'm making sense.

Yep. Really sickening. :confused: :glare:

You're most welcome. Sorry it's not very organized. On my to-do list to organize later. :)

:iagree:

I'm reading and loving Fall of Giants. I've always enjoyed Ken Follett books.

:iagree: Hollywood will do anything for $$$. :glare:

No one knows for sure just how many people may be "sensitive" to MSG, but studies from the 1970s suggested that 25 percent to 30 percent of the U.S. population was intolerant of MSG -- at levels then found in food. Since the use of MSG has expanded dramatically since that time, it's been estimated that up to 40 percent of the population may be impacted.[8] How to Determine if MSG is in Your Food Food manufacturers are not stupid, and they've caught on to the fact that people like you want to avoid eating this nasty food additive. As a result, do you think they responded by removing MSG from their products? Well, a few may have, but most of them just tried to "clean" their labels. In other words, they tried to hide the fact that MSG is an ingredient. How do they do this? By using names that you would never associate with MSG. You see, it's required by the FDA that food manufacturers list the ingredient "monosodium glutamate" on food labels, but they do not have to label ingredients that contain free glutamic acid, even though it's the main component of MSG. There are over 40 labeled ingredients that contain glutamic acid,[9] but you'd never know it just from their names alone. Further, in some foods glutamic acid is formed during processing and, again, food labels give you no way of knowing for sure. Tips for Keeping MSG Out of Your Diet In general, if a food is processed you can assume it contains MSG (or one of its pseudo-ingredients). So if you stick to a whole, fresh foods diet, you can pretty much guarantee that you'll avoid this toxin. The other place where you'll need to watch out for MSG is in restaurants. You can ask your server which menu items are MSG-free, and request that no MSG be added to your meal, but of course the only place where you can be entirely sure of what's added to your food is in your own kitchen. To be on the safe side, you should also know what ingredients to watch out for on packaged foods. Here is a list of ingredients that ALWAYS contain MSG: • Autolyzed Yeast Calcium Caseinate Gelatin • Glutamate Glutamic Acid Hydrolyzed Protein • Monopotassium Glutamate Monosodium Glutamate Sodium Caseinate • Textured Protein Yeast Extract Yeast Food • Yeast Nutrient These ingredients OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing: • Flavors and Flavorings Seasonings Natural Flavors and Flavorings Natural Pork Flavoring Natural Beef Flavoring • Natural Chicken Flavoring Soy Sauce Soy Protein Isolate Soy Protein Bouillon • Stock Broth Malt Extract Malt Flavoring Barley Malt • Anything Enzyme Modified Carrageenan Maltodextrin Pectin Enzymes • Protease Corn Starch Citric Acid Powdered Milk Anything Protein Fortified • Anything Ultra-Pasteurized So if you do eat processed foods, please remember to be on the lookout for these many hidden names for MSG. Choosing to be MSG-Free Making a decision to avoid MSG in your diet as much as possible is a wise choice for nearly everyone. Admittedly, it does take a bit more planning and time in the kitchen to prepare food at home, using fresh, locally grown ingredients. But knowing that your food is pure and free of toxic additives like MSG will make it well worth it. Plus, choosing whole foods will ultimately give you better flavor and more health value than any MSG-laden processed food you could buy at your supermarket. When reading labels, look for the new cloak for MSG, "Natural Flavors". Believe it or not, a company can legally say "There is no MSG in our product" as long as the MSG is a CONSTITUENT of an INGREDIENT such as the ingredient "Natural Flavors". This is extremely deceptive on the part of the government to allow this. I ask, if MSG truly isn’t harmful, why is it hidden this way? A processed Chinese food is higher in MSG than American processed food. A BBC article stated that between 1985 and 2000, overweight and obesity in China's children increased an extremely alarming 28 fold. You have to be on the lookout for many, many names. For the most part, try to avoid the following ingredients as much as humanly possible: Autolyzed yeast Calcium caseinate Glutamate Glutamic acid Gelatin Hydrolyzed corn gluten Hydrolyzed protein (any protein that is hydrolyzed) Monopotassium glutamate Monosodium glutamate MSG Natrium glutamate (natrium is Latin for sodium) Sodium caseinate Textured protein Yeast extract Yeast food Yeast nutrient If you are in Europe, MSG is referred to on labels as E621 and it’s not very intuitive to figure out that E621 means MSG. And then we have the processed food ingredients that quite often will create MSG while being prepared: Anything enzyme modified Anything fermented Anything protein fortified Barley malt Bouillon and Broth Carrageenan Citric acid Enzymes anything Flavors(s) and Flavoring(s) Malt extract Malt flavoring Maltodextrin Natural beef flavoring Natural chicken flavoring Natural flavor(s) and flavoring(s) Natural pork flavoring Pectin Protease Protease enzymes Seasonings (the actual word "seasonings") Soy protein Soy protein concentrate Soy protein isolate Soy sauce Soy sauce extract Stock Ultra-pasteurized Whey protein Whey protein concentrate Whey protein isolate If you see either disodium guanylate or disodium inosinate in a list of ingredients, the product probably also contains MSG. These are expensive food additives that work synergistically with inexpensive MSG. Their use suggests that the product has MSG in it. They would probably not be used as food additives if there were no MSG present Low fat and no fat dairy products often include milk solids that contain MSG, which is yet another reason to avoid those fake foods. Drinks, candy, and chewing gum are potential sources of hidden MSG and of aspartame and neotame. Aspartic acid, found in neotame and aspartame (NutraSweet), ordinarily causes MSG type reactions in MSG sensitive people. Aspartame is found in some medications, including children's medications. Neotame is relatively new and I have not yet seen it used widely. Binders and fillers for medications, nutrients, and supplements, both prescription and non-prescription, enteral feeding materials, and some fluids administered intravenously in hospitals, may contain MSG.

Here's all the info I have on MSG. Rather hard to completely avoid it, unless you cook all your own food or something. A diet high in MSG can triple a person’s odds of being overweight. Can also lead to: Cravings Weight gain Stress Headaches Fatigue Brain Fog WHAT TO DO: Flavoring a dish or two every day with fresh ginger, rosemary, or oregano can armor the body Enjoy 4 daily servings of fruit like papaya or veggies like carrots, peppers, and broccoli. More magnesium – 400 mg twice daily Try your best to avoid MSG. It’s often disguised on product labels: • Monopotassium glutamate • Yeast Extract • Hydrolyzed Protein • Calcium Caseinate • Sodium Caseinate • Yeast Nutrient • Autolyzed Yeast • Gelatin • Textured Protein • Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten • Natrium Glutmate • Vague Words like ‘flavoring†or “spices†Read this somewhere - sorry can't remember where. MSG: A Silent Enemy I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic, so did John Erb, a friend of mine. He was a research assistant at the University of Waterloo, and spent years working for the government. He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called The Slow Poisoning of America. In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies. No strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so the scientists have to create them. They make these morbidly obese creatures by injecting them with MSG when they are first born. The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and humans?) to become obese. They even have a title for the race of fat rodents they create: "MSG-Treated Rats" MSG? I was shocked too. For a long time now, many Chinese restaurants have stopped using MSG because of the negative health effects reported. But out of curiosity, I went to my kitchen, checking the cupboards and the fridge. MSG was in everything! The Campbell's soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, Kraft salad dressings, especially the 'healthy low fat' ones. The items that didn't have MSG had something called Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate. It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff. They hide MSG under many different names in order to fool those who catch on. But it didn't stop there. When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants what menu items had MSG. Many employees, even the managers, swore they didn't use MSG. But when we ask for the ingredient list, which they grudgingly provided, sure enough MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere. Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant, even the sit down ones like TGIF, Chili's', Applebee's and Denny's use MSG in abundance. Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing and gravy. No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin, their secret spice is MSG! Why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat? Is it a preservative or maybe a vitamin? Not according to my friend John. In the book he wrote, an expose of the food additive industry called The Slow Poisoning of America, he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body. Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby group supporting MSG explains that the reason they add it to food is to make people eat more. A study of elderly people showed that people eat more of the foods that it is added to. The Glutamate Association lobby group says eating more benefits the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us? "Betcha can't eat just one", takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight? The MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products. It makes people choose their product over others, and makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn't added. Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance! Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the prepackaged meals, soups, snacks and fast foods we are tempted to eat every day. The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim it's safe to eat in any amount. How can they claim it is safe when there are hundreds of scientific studies that suggest otherwise? Both the medical research community and food manufacturers have known MSG's side effects for decades! If you believe that MSG is okay for us to consume, and you don't believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself. Go to the National Library of Medicine, at http://www.pubmed.com Type in the words "MSG Obese", and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear. Many studies mentioned in John Erb's book link MSG to diabetes, migraines and other headaches, autism, ADD-HD and even Alzheimer's. MSG is one of the worst food additives on the market and is used in canned soups, crackers, meats, salad dressings, frozen dinners and much more. One of the best overviews of the very real dangers of MSG comes from Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon and author of "Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills." In it he explains that MSG is an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites your cells to the point of damage or death, causing brain damage to varying degrees -- and potentially even triggering or worsening learning disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease and more. Part of the problem also is that free glutamic acid is the same neurotransmitter that your brain, nervous system, eyes, pancreas and other organs use to initiate certain processes in your body.Even the FDA states: "Studies have shown that the body uses glutamate, an amino acid, as a nerve impulse transmitter in the brain and that there are glutamate-responsive tissues in other parts of the body, as well. Abnormal function of glutamate receptors has been linked with certain neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's chorea. Injections of glutamate in laboratory animals have resulted in damage to nerve cells in the brain." Although the FDA continues to claim that consuming MSG in food does not cause these ill effects, many other experts say otherwise. According to Dr. Blaylock, numerous glutamate receptors have been found both within your heart's electrical conduction system and the heart muscle itself. This can be damaging to your heart, and may even explain the sudden deaths sometimes seen among young athletes. He says: "When an excess of food-borne excitotoxins, such as MSG, hydrolyzed protein soy protein isolate and concentrate, natural flavoring, sodium caseinate and aspartate from aspartame, are consumed, these glutamate receptors are over-stimulated, producing cardiac arrhythmias. When magnesium stores are low, as we see in athletes, the glutamate receptors are so sensitive that even low levels of these excitotoxins can result in cardiac arrhythmias and death." Many other adverse effects have also been linked to regular consumption of MSG, including: Obesity Eye damage Headaches Fatigue and disorientation Depression Further, even the FDA admits that "short-term reactions" known as MSG Symptom Complex can occur in certain groups of people, namely those who have eaten "large doses" of MSG or those who have asthma. According to the FDA, MSG Symptom Complex can involve symptoms such as: Numbness Burning sensation Tingling Facial pressure or tightness Chest pain or difficulty breathing Headache Nausea Rapid heartbeat Drowsiness Weakness

I love Dave Barry and have been adding suggestions here to my wish list. These threads are great. :D One I loved and laughed my head off is Funny in Farsi.