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Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills
by
Ex•cí•to•tox•in: a substance added to foods and beverages that literally stimulates neurons to death, causing brain damage of varying degrees. Can be found in such ingredients as monosodium glutamate, aspartame (NutraSweet®), cysteine, hydrolyzed protein, and aspartic acid.
Citing over five hundred scientific studies, Excitotoxins explores the dangers of aspartame, MSG and ...more
Citing over five hundred scientific studies, Excitotoxins explores the dangers of aspartame, MSG and ...more
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Paperback, 297 pages
Published
January 1st 1997
by Health Press (NM)
(first published 1994)
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Very, very Goood!!! I am allergic to (MSG)a.k.a. Mono-sodium- glutimate. It is in so many different kinds of foods, not just chinese/japanese! This book opened my eyes about all the differenct excitotoxins that we pour into our bodies on a daily basis. This book will change your life and hopefully change the way you polute your body with toxins.
Put down your Taco bell "taco" you paid 27 cents for and find out what your really putting in your body.For those intelligent enough to see past the veil of lies placed upon us all at birth, the answers are scary.
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Nov 13, 2008
Samantha Penrose
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review of another edition
Shelves:
healthy-living,
general-non-fiction
I had a hard time getting through this book. I felt like I was reading something intended for medical professionals.
In the introduction the author states that the book is "written mainly for the lay public, but also for those trained in medical science and biology". The first chapter is optional..."It is primarily for those unfamiliar with the central nervous system and the terms used to describe the various diseases and conditions associated with excitiotoxin damage". Needless to say, this "cra ...more
In the introduction the author states that the book is "written mainly for the lay public, but also for those trained in medical science and biology". The first chapter is optional..."It is primarily for those unfamiliar with the central nervous system and the terms used to describe the various diseases and conditions associated with excitiotoxin damage". Needless to say, this "cra ...more
This book provided adequate and fundamental information regarding excitotoxins to the point where I feel comfortable defining the terms for others. My main gripe is that it seems to be geared towards incitement and fear-based tactics to inform. The idea of neuronal death sounds extreme and direct lines cannot be made between excitotoxins and conditions such as Alzheimer's. The author doesn't try to build a model based on causality but the language used sometimes leads the reader to forget that f
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The author says that the book is for the lay person, but the book is rather technical which was alright for me though, it just challenges me to think harder. :)
The book taught me about the various names of MSG and how its toxic effects will accumulate over time in the brain. He noted that MSG is especially toxic to unborn and young children because they do not have the fully protected blood brain barrier and there brain is still developing. He linked MSG toxicity to many degenerative brain disea ...more
The book taught me about the various names of MSG and how its toxic effects will accumulate over time in the brain. He noted that MSG is especially toxic to unborn and young children because they do not have the fully protected blood brain barrier and there brain is still developing. He linked MSG toxicity to many degenerative brain disea ...more
This book is a must read for all parents and those trying to conceive!
As MSG has become a dirty word with consumers, food manufacturers have changed the labeling to ingredients such as autolyzed/hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy protein isolate, or natural flavours. The reality is that all of these ingredients deliver the same harmful side effects as MSG itself. These substances pass through the placenta to developing children, and are known to cause acute symptoms of weakness, headaches, and mu ...more
As MSG has become a dirty word with consumers, food manufacturers have changed the labeling to ingredients such as autolyzed/hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy protein isolate, or natural flavours. The reality is that all of these ingredients deliver the same harmful side effects as MSG itself. These substances pass through the placenta to developing children, and are known to cause acute symptoms of weakness, headaches, and mu ...more
Eye opener, anyone interested in nutrition and especially all parents should read this one
Found this book very informative, worthwhile reading, but had to skim through much of it to get to the parts that were my reason for reading this and that interested me most. Yes, I believe that food additives are very harmful, some more than others. Aside from being harmful to our development, overall health and longevity, Aspartame and any other sweetener should be banned, in my opinion. This book only confirms it. So too, flavour enhancing food additives have no place in the foods we eat. No
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This book was fascinating. It admittedly lacks the hand of a good copyeditor, but otherwise it's an excellent balance of scientific evidence explained for the non-scientific reader. The author is a neurosurgeon who started investigating excitotoxic food additives following his father's bout with Alzheimer's disease. He lays out his evidence for the reader to examine and is more than willing to point out holes in the existing body of research. The fact that the FDA continues to support these addi
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I enjoy the technical aspect of the book, easy to double check the science of what is in the book. I have read many other books on the subject, but, this is the best. Over the years, when I try to tell people about the dangers of artificial sweeteners and MSG, I am usually met with blank stares, or polite nodding of the head and passed off as the crazy conspiracy theorist, this book has facts and sources to back them up.
One of my patients told me about this book, and I saw that it was free with my audible membership. It's definitely the sort of book I should have read rather than listened to -- a lot of the dense concepts go right over my head when I'm listening and trying to do something else at the same time. But every now and then I'd stop and email myself a note to research a topic more thoroughly. The concept of blood brain barrier disruption due to excitotoxins such as MSG, glutamate generally, and aspart
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This is an amazing book from which I have learned so many things about the brain, the body and the things that make us sick. After reading this book, I made significant changes in my diet.
Great book to learn the history behind MSG and science of excitotoxicity.
I didn't really know what to expect when I began reading this book other than I was pretty sure it would be a boring read I'd have to trudge through. Surprisingly, I found myself drawn in and wanting to learn more about excitotoxins such as MSG and aspartate and what effects they have on the human brain. Dr. Blaylock did a good job at linking these substances to diseases such as Parkinson's Disease, ALS and Alzheimer's Disease.
One thing that bothered me throughout the book is that there are num ...more
One thing that bothered me throughout the book is that there are num ...more
NOTE: This review is my opinion. In other words, it is a review that I wrote based on my encounter with the book. If you have a differing opinion, that is fine with me. But please use good manners in commenting on my review. Thank you.
Hmm. I think there is a lot to be said for what's in this book, but it is written in alarmist fashion which damages its credibility. It also needed stronger editing. It switches back and forth between painfully obvious analogies and hiding out in the technical jarg ...more
Hmm. I think there is a lot to be said for what's in this book, but it is written in alarmist fashion which damages its credibility. It also needed stronger editing. It switches back and forth between painfully obvious analogies and hiding out in the technical jarg ...more
A book written about MSG (monosodium glutamate) and how it is being used in so many foods nowadays, across the board it has become industry standard to enhance taste of foods and this is a book written from a scientific perspective on how it damages the brain and the author gives his theory that MSG could be being used to dumb down the population and how research that exposed MSG to be dangerous has been suppressed and hidden, to give a brief synopsis. The author was a neurosurgeon which adds a
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There is soooooo much information in this book....very necessary information that more people (everyone) needs to become aware of....but not an easy read for a non-science major who is reading 6 or more books at a time....lol... bottom line...msg and other excitotoxins do kill and they shouldn't be in our food!
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I didn't get to read this as thoroughly as I wanted. I might have to check it back out sometime.
A couple interesting points: hypoglycemia can cause similar damage to the brain as does a stroke. The prescribed diet of choice for the hypoglycemic is: high protein/low carb, but Matt Stone and Blaylock say it's high complex carb/low fat.
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A couple interesting points: hypoglycemia can cause similar damage to the brain as does a stroke. The prescribed diet of choice for the hypoglycemic is: high protein/low carb, but Matt Stone and Blaylock say it's high complex carb/low fat.
...more
Good overview of the brain and nervous system. Discussed the effects of MSG, Aspartame and hydrolyzed vegetable protein on the brain in relation specifically to Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Small discussion with regards to developing brians, seizures, headaches, etc.
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A little bit scary - stay away from aspertame, msg and hydrolized vegetable protein!!!! Seriously!!!!
I don't know if I'll finish this one. I'm finding it a difficult read - very scientific with lots of details. ...more
I don't know if I'll finish this one. I'm finding it a difficult read - very scientific with lots of details. ...more
This book is full of medical jargon and difficult to read. The purpose is more to inform medical practitioners of the dangers about excitotoxins than it is to provide information on how to recover from exposure. Advice seems to be that it is just best to avoid them.
Total research book. After I read it I stopped buying certain foods because it scared me so much. Now that a couple of years have passed I've relaxed but still buy organic milk and don't buy cheesy covered chips (loaded with msg) for the house, except for parties.
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Love this book, even though it is a bit scientific and 'dry'. I am allergic to MSG and am working my way out of a major sugar/sweets addiction, so it's handy information so that I can make some other changes alongside drastically cutting down on sweets.
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For a more medical perspective on the problems caused by excitotoxins, perhaps Philpott.
Brain Allergies Brain Allergie ...more
Brain Allergies Brain Allergie ...more
I gave up on this book. Too many other books to read. It was dauntingly scientific and dense. The bits of information I got from skimming through were good. It looks like it's a very thorough exploration of the topic. Takeaway - avoid MSG and aspartame like the plague!
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Way too technical for this reader. Premise was good; introduction said what needed to be said. Excitotoxins kill. Also a little dated by now, 17 years later. There are a lot of more readable tomes available on the subject of nutrition for the lay person.
Well, if you want all the fun of dinner out to be spoiled forever, read this. The conspiracy theory aspects of Blaylock's viewpoint are entertaining, but maybe not enough to overshadow the creeping feeling that there may be disaster loaded onto your fork.
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This was a very informative read, with chilling implications about the destructive power of excititoxins in the human body, but the author spent so much time making this book into a primer on brain function that he nearly lost his own point.
I read this book several years ago after being diagnosed with meningitis. This book reads like a college textbook. It is filled with so much information about the brain, neurons, food, and excitotoxins. It's an excellent book, if this subject is of interest to you.
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A book made up from a chapter from the health and nutrition book. With a few more studies added. Mostly about mice and the extrapolation to humans. If a neurologist does n't know when to extrapolate from mice to humans I don't know who would..
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Dr. Blaylock is a board certified neurosurgeon, author and lecturer. He attended the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed his general surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. During his residency he ran the neurology program for one year and did a fellowship in neurosurgery after his residency. For the
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