How Soy Makes you Fat

Few people are aware that MSG – monosodium glutamate – is actually a naturally occurring byproduct as a result of cooking soy beans (Source: Dr Gabriel Cousens, MD).

So, MSG is not an evil substance that is mined and inserted into food to hurt you; it’s a byproduct of the chemical reaction that takes place when soy is taken from its raw form to its cooked.

Despite MSG’s natural origin, there are still severe health repercussions associated with its consumption. MSG is referred to as an ‘excitotoxin’ because nerve cells are damaged and killed as a result of ingestion.

MSG also damages the hypothalamus, which is a part of your brain that deals with your nervous system and endocrine (hormone) system. Extended exposure to MSG can lead to lesions on the hypothalamus.

The health of your hypothalamus is absolutely critical, since your hormones are a large part of what keeps you healthy and young. Hormones also largely contribute to food cravings. The more damaged your hypothalamus is, the more likely you will experience wild food cravings and a higher likelihood of obesity.

Most of us understand that we should avoid foods with MSG in them; however, MSG is almost never labelled as such on food packaging. Other manufacturers’ terms for MSG include:

• Textured protein
• Vegetable protein
• Soy protein (isolate)
• Natural flavouring
• Glutamate
• Glutamic acid
• Soy lecithin
• Lecithin

…the list is ever-changing.

Healthier versions of soy sauce are unpasteurized products, such as the following:

• Bragg’s Liquid Aminos – neither heated, fermented, or pasteurized
• Nama shoyu – unpasteurized soy sauce

You also want to avoid tofu, soy milk, edamame, and all packaged products made with soy.

“But edamame is so cute and healthy looking. What could be wrong with edamame?”

Nothing, except that it puts bruises on your brain and makes you fat. Bon appetite!