THIS KITCHEN SPICE CAUSES FAT

If you’re like most people, when you think of monosodium glutamate (MSG) you think of Chinese food. But this innocent sounding additive also lurks in a surprisingly lengthy laundry list of food products and ingredients.

MSG is a flavor enhancer, one of the most common food additives, and a staple in the Standard American Diet, which has a very fitting acronym (SAD).

It shows up in all sorts of places, both obvious and hidden. For example, MSG is often disguised on food labels as “natural flavors”). MSG is also one of the biggest enemies to those who are trying to attain (and maintain) an ideal weight. Numerous studies have linked MSG intake with unhealthy weight levels and obesity.

Animal studies show that MSG can cause lesions in the hypothalamus region of the brain and leptin resistance (meaning tested animals don’t respond to the hormone signal letting them know they’re full), which leads to unhealthy weight gain. Then there are other studies that show mice become overweight when injected with MSG.

Still more research demonstrates that in a study where calorie consumption and exercise were equal, the group of men and women who used MSG were more likely to be overweight than the group that did not.

Another study performed by the University of North Carolina showed a correlation between MSG intake and obesity in Chinese adults. They found that the study group who used the most MSG was three times more likely to be overweight than nonusers.

Need more proof that you should avoid MSG at all costs? In addition to being tied to obesity, MSG is likely associated with numerous other serious symptoms and health conditions including: diabetes, depression, heart disease, cancer, celiac, migraines, digestive upsets, infertility, ADD, inflammation, and possibly even asthma.

MSG may also be addictive. It affects a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) called GABA, which stimulates the brain.

A desire for this sensation can, in turn, cause MSG addiction.

Convinced yet?

Despite these studies and scientists’ warnings to “…abstain from adding the popular flavoring agent MSG,” this obesity additive keeps popping up in many processed foods.

Now that you’re in the know, the next step is to avoid MSG; unfortunately, this isn’t always easy. As we’ve already discussed, not only are tons of foods loaded with MSG in obvious ways (meaning a food label clearly states that MSG or monosodium glutamate is included), but MSG is also HIDDEN in many foods.

To save you from the detective work necessary to hunt down these ingredients, here’s a list of some culprits. (Keep in mind that some of the following items always contain MSG, while others may or may not contain it. To be on the safe side, you should consider eliminating these items from your diet altogether.) Suspect ingredients include: monosodium glutamate, MSG, glutamate, yeast extract, hydrolyzed protein, glutamic acid, autolyzed yeast, and maltodextrin. There are others, but this is a good start.

Processed foods are much more likely to contain MSG, so steer as clear of them as you can. Also, try to avoid non-organic produce, because MSG-containing products are sometimes used as sprays and fertilizers for those fruits and vegetables. If nothing else, be sure to wash all produce carefully.

I hope you got some benefit from this article. I sure enjoyed writing it for you. Now if you want even more food tips to lose belly fat even faster… be sure to to read an article below about “7 Odd Nutrients That Burn Fat, Fast”…