How Toxins Make Us Overweight

Studies show that mice and rats that are injected with or fed monosodium glutamate (MSG) will gain weight rapidly, which is why chemicals like MSG are referred to as 'obesogens.'

Introduced to the United States in 1947 and touted as a flavor enhancer, MSG has since been added to many processed, packaged and fast foods - from chips to salad dressings and Ramen noodles. Although it might make food taste better, it doesn't make us feel so great.  In 1969, the journal Science published an article that reported on the symptoms of MSG, ranging from headaches to swelling, burning, and more.  These symptoms were collectively called Chinese Food Syndrome, likely because of the high levels that were traditionally added to enhance the flavors of Chinese foods.

More recent studies have revealed another symptom of MSG - weight gain.  It is a commonly known reaction in the scientific community - when scientists need overweight rats for a study, they give them monosodium glutamate (MSG). When rats are injected with MSG, it increases their hunger, and creates insulin resistance - a double whammy that leads to pre-diabetes, and rapid weight gain.  Foods that are 'enhanced' with MSG are also highly addictive, so once we start to eat them, it is hard to stop.  We then crave more of that food, creating a vicious cycle. 

Food manufacturers know we are reading their labels, so they hide MSG under other names - like hydrolyzed vegetable protein, sodium hydrogen glutamate, sodium caseinate, and dozens of others. If you eat at a fast food restaurant, you can bet there is MSG or a derivative in most of the choices on the menu. Hydrolyzed vegetable protein is even found in foods like Goldfish, which toddlers eat by the handfuls.  It's no wonder we have a childhood obesity problem, considering we are feeding our kids obesogens from an early age.

There are other chemicals that are considered obesogens:

• BPAs – found in many canned goods and plastics (especially with the number 3 or 7)
• High fructose corn syrup – found in most sodas and sweets
• Phthalates – chemicals found in fragrance products and vinyl products, and more
• Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) – found in Teflon pans, microwave popcorn bags, and even pizza boxes.

A new study estimates that if obesity statistics continue on their current rate of growth, that by 2030 all 50 states could have obesity rates above 44 percent, with 13 of those states above 60 percent.  So if we don't want to end up like those lab rats, we should be aware of and avoid obesogenic chemicals.

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Sara Vance is a Clinical Nutritionist in the Encinitas, CA area.  Join Sara for her next Perfect Metabolism cleanse.  A foods-based cleanse, Perfect Metabolism(tm) is designed to boost the metabolism by identifying and removing toxic substances, increasing plant-based and highly nutritious foods, and increasing appetite supressing fiber and healthy fats. The next Perfect Metabolism program starts on October 1st, 2012.  Sign up or learn more here.

Sara also offers nutritional counseling, School Assemblies, group classes, kids yoga, and more. Visit ReBalanceLife.com for more information.  Friend Sara Vance at ReBalance Life on Facebook.

©2012, all rights reserved. Sara Vance.

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Related articles:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/07/02/aspartame-...

http://www.ehow.com/about_5065960_monosodium-glutamate-used.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/detox-tips_b_1289488.html

http://rense.com/general67/msg.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/377482-other-names-for-msg-or-monosodi...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesogen

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/understanding-obesogens