The Massive Obesity Epidemic

The world is deceptive, it looks so solid, yet people can leave it so abruptly.
-Morag Joss
"Half-Broken Things"

As a follow-up to my recent MSG: The Danger Zone BLOG I came across this article from a very dear friend (below) that I had to share with all of you today. Think twice about what you put in your mouth.

“If you can’t pick it, don’t eat it.” (Meaning if you cannot pick it from a tree or under the ground: vegetables are cool.) Or at least be moderate in what you have usually been eating. It’s not an easy task to avoid MSG.

Here is an excerpt of an article that was sent to me by a dear friend, Hanne Reid, in British Columbia, Canada. There are references that defend the claims:

MSG (a slow poison)

The food additive MSG (Mono-Sodium Glutamate) is a slow poison. MSG hides behind 25 or more names, such as Natural Flavoring." MSG is even in your favorite coffee from Tim Horton's and Starbucks coffee shops!

I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic, and so did a friend of mine, John Erb. He was a research assistant at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, 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 scientists have to create them. They make these creatures morbidly obese by injecting them with MSG when they are first born. The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese. They even have a name for the fat rodents they create: "MSG-Treated Rats."

When I heard this, I was shocked. I went into my kitchen and checked the cupboards and the refrigerator. MSG was in everything: Campbell soup, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, and Kraft salad dressings, especially the "healthy low-fat" ones. The items that didn't have MSG marked on the product label 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. MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who read the ingredient list, so that they don't catch on. (Other names for MSG are "Accent, "Aginomoto," "Natural Meat Tenderizer," etc.)

But it didn't stop there. When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants what menu items contained 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, McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant -- even the sit-down eateries 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 was MSG!

So why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat? Is it a preservative, or a vitamin? Not according to my friend John Erb. In his book 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 the elderly showed that older people eat more of the foods that it is added to. The Glutamate Association lobbying group says eating more is a benefit to the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us?

"Bet you can't eat just one," takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight!

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 pre-packaged 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. Many more of the studies mentioned in John Erb's book link MSG to diabetes, migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, and even Alzheimer's. So what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping this fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and causing the obesity epidemic we now see?

Several months ago, John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of
the highest government health officials in Canada. While he was sitting in
the government office, the official told him, "Sure, I know how bad MSG is.
I wouldn't touch the stuff." But this top-level government official refuses
to tell the public what he knows.

The big media doesn't want to tell the public either, fearing issues
with their advertisers. It seems that the fallout on the fast food industry
may hurt their profit margin. The food producers and restaurants have been
addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price
for it. Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive.

But what can I do about it? I'm just one voice! What can I do to stop the poisoning of our children, while our governments are insuring financial protection for the industry that is poisoning us?

This message is going out to everyone I know in an attempt to tell you the truth that the corporate-owned politicians and media won't tell you. The best way you can help to save yourself and your children from this drug-induced epidemic is to forward this article to everyone. With any luck, it will circle the globe before politicians can pass the legislation protecting those who are poisoning us.

The food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry. Imagine if
big tobacco had a bill like this in place before someone blew the whistle on
nicotine?

If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for
us and you don't believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself. Go to
the National Library of Medicine at www.pubmed.com. Type in the words "MSG Obese" and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear.

We the public do not want to be rats in one giant experiment and we
do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic, addicted sheep, feeding the food industry's bottom line while
waiting for the heart transplant, the diabetic-induced amputation,
blindness, or other obesity-induced, life-threatening disorders.

With your help we can put an end to this poison.
Do your part in sending this message out by word of mouth, e-mail, or by
distribution of this printout to your friends all over the world and stop
this "Slow Poisoning of Mankind" by the packaged food industry.

Blowing the whistle on MSG is our responsibility, so get the word out.
Be extra vigilant in checking labels from now on.

Twenty-five years ago today:

September 26, 1984
Wednesday
Paloma did call last night.
“Some photographer at the fitness center wants to take pictures of me,” Paloma said in her sexy French accent.
“What did you say?”

She explained how she shunned him off in her own cute way. I, myself, would love to take some photographic shots of her…actually!

I gave my usual sperm donation today but there was still no word on positive pregnancy results. Time will tell…again, I guess. I still have my recurring appointment on Wednesday. I can use the money—even if it’s pocket change. It will pay for lunch and the toll rides into the City. Laughter.

Lunch was fun with Bobbie, Pat and I as we went for the Ambrosia New Potato Salad at Emporium, followed by yogurt for dessert.

After work I made my sperm donation as mentioned previously and then went cycling along Shoreline Drive. Who do I run into? Of course, I see Linda Nannizzi ride past on her bike in the opposite direction. I did a simple nod as she went by. I rode only from 6:30PM to 7:10PM. I began to wonder how school was treating Linda these days.

I did not call Paloma today even though I said I would. She’s probably at her Hilltop Fitness Center having the bodybuilders ‘spot her’ anyway.

Christmastime is upon us. I already noticed the signs of it while at Emporium today.

I had a good time reading Bobbie’s EROTICA book today.

It was mind boggling to learn the PREMIS/LAC calling business features today on top of everything else we’ve learned. Tomorrow is the big ‘Business Office’ day.

I picked up my pictures tonight. The reprints from the slides and pictures of Wayne, Paul and Ashley totaled twenty-six dollars. Ouch! It’s time to get serious. I need to save my bucks and pay and clear those damn bills of mine. My goal is to get (and have) it together by March 1985.