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Health & Fitness

Another Piece in the Puzzle of Health

Pitfalls regarding health!

Hello Patch readers,

I am wondering how many of you put sweetener in your coffee this morning, how many, including my Office Manager, popped a piece of sugar free gum on the way to work. That rotten thing known as Aspartic acid or aspartame is an amino acid and is the brain’s second prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter.

What is that? I hear you hiss through your gum and coffee - I’ll get to that in a minute.

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Many of us will have eaten a yogurt which contains gelatin, had a bowl of sweetened cereal or consumed a pastry with a yeast nutrient slathered with marmalade as we scooted out of the door this morning. (Oh sorry, that’s my Office Manager again.) All of which contain MSG, you know, monosodium glutamate!

The first excitatory neurotransmitter is Glutamate. The substance it is almost impossible to exclude from regular diets unless we don’t ever eat in a Chinese or fast food restaurant, never consume a bag of chips or open a can of soup. OK, OK I know that not in every case we run into problems, but the regulations of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) allow hidden MSG to be in lots of places that we don’t expect.

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For example; a manufacturer makes a product and labels it with all the ingredients he puts in. However, if he uses a spice mix from a different manufacturer that has MSG in it, he is not required by law to state the fact that MSG is present.

An excitatory neurotransmitter! Sounds really cool! Will it help us stay awake, get through exams or enable us to out perform other athletes?

NO! Excess Glutamate and aspartame kill brain neurons! Too much glutamate literally excites brain neurons to death, hence the name. Glutamate is commonly added to foods because it makes them ‘exciting’ or taste better. I must say some of the vast assortments of foods that contain these 2 main brain toxins are delicious because of them.

However do we really want to suffer any or all of the following?

Weight Gain
Mental Confusion
Headaches and seizures
Fluttering or Irregular Heartbeat
Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Allergic Reaction such as shortness of breath, swelling and hives?

Not to mention the possible links that MSG has with Alzheimer Disease and Huntington’s chorea.

Staying away from neurotoxins is just another part of the puzzle that adds up to keeping the body and mind healthy and well.

If you know a chiropractor, such as myself, you will know that I am interested in the health of the whole body and that I promote non invasive, natural health remedies.

This particular chiropractor is much more interested in finding the cause of the symptoms, it could be trauma but it could be that you are ingesting too many neurotoxins. But it could be many things in between.

I find that there is a fair amount of detective work between cause and effect and the solution to the problems of my patients. Sometimes it is a journey with a surprising outcome.

So, just to let you know;

These ALWAYS contain MSG;

Glutamate, Glutamic acid ,Gelatin Monosodium glutamate, Calcium caseinate, Textured protein, Monopotassium glutamate, Sodium caseinate, Yeast nutrient, Yeast extract, Yeast food, Autolyzed yeast, Hydrolyzed protein (any protein that is hydrolyzed) Hydrolyzed corn gluten Natrium glutamate (natrium is Latin/German for sodium)

These commonly contain MSG;

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

I hope that you will allow me this indulgence, Patch readers.

On March 13th my Dad passed away.

I was one of the luckiest guys I know because Wayne Whitlow was my Dad.

I would like to share this poem and to send strength and peace to all those of us who have recently lost a parent or indeed a loved one.

Your soul is in Heaven, you’re finally at rest – I’ll miss you so dearly, Dad…you were the best.

 Although you are gone, your Spirit will stay – I know I’ll be with you in Heaven some day.

 

Your great sense of humor, your charm and your wit – was one of those things that just wouldn’t quit.

 

You were such a great guy, so funny and clever – one of those people I’ll remember forever.

 

Although to Mom you’ll always be true, I know all the ladies will be flirting with you.

 

I’ll never forget you, you’ll always be here – you one of those people I hold most dear.

 

Though there are many people – billions it’s true – not one of them is as precious as you.

 

Goodbye Dad, God rest your soul – to be with you again is my ultimate goal.

 

I love you so much, Dad, and I always will - -God Bless You

 

Yours in health,

Dr JB Whitlow DC

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