Where does glutamate fit into all of this?

[mtn.mama]

I read something yesterday that made me want to look into food sources of glutamate, and how it could be impacting our food sensitivities and overall health. Does anyone have some good links for me? TIA,:

[mtn.mama]

Here are a couple of sites with some interesting info:

http://dogtorj.tripod.com/id31.html

http://www.msgtruth.org/avoid.htm

[Theloose]

http://george-eby-research.com/html/...y.html#taurine

Are you also looking at reasons why you might have a glutamate/GABA imbalance? Hey look, heartfixer's back up!

Personally, I'm thinking glutamate is kind of huge for us.

[kjbrown92]

dogtorj was where I got my info. That's what made me take out corn for myself.

[Theloose]

Also, there's the stuff in the calcium ion channel thread. I added taurine this week, in hopes of closing the calcium ion channels that are held open by glutamate, and so far, I'm seeing really good results - my face is clearing up, my joints aren't as loose (I used to be able to pop my shoulder out of the socket) and dd doesn't seem as knock-kneed.

Does anyone have any good links on what aspartate does?

I'm wondering if the glutamate increases the demand for taurine, leaving less for making bile, and if that could have something to do with the mushy poop-type reactions we get. When we have those reactions, the stool never gets light colored like is classic with low bile, but I'm still wondering... The george eby link talks about taking taurine to increase your bowel tolerance for magnesium, and when I think about it, that bowel tolerance looks a lot like dd's poop reactions.

[FireWithin]

ok this is a topic I need to jump onto.
Pat mentioned Bragg's liquid aminos and glutamate earlier.
I have finally noticed (I think) that DS1 reacts to Bragg's, but I really really don't think he did before.
I'm not sure if it is all glutamate (bone broth) or if it is a sole reaction to Bragg's.

So I guess this is leading into learning about the next detox pathway for us.
glutamate/GABA.
I am wondering if as we open up pathways (: it is putting other stresses in other pathways? But why is it bothering my oldest in a way it isn't bothering my youngest and I?

I am feeling sad about the Bragg's, but I don't want to give up bone broth. BUT I can't have my son acting/feeling the way he has.

Will report back if I find any answers.

eta : maybe i'm not having tantrums, but recently my short term memory and word recall has sucked more than usual. Word recall has always been an issue but now i wonder if it is related to this and no dislexia
read some more - this is definately an issue for us, but have a cranky toddler on my lap.
nak
i believe my copper is high, zinc low
but i do think calcium is low, but so is mag - cont supp mag
looks like i need to check out cbs up reg
i should get a hair test for my oldest that should help me figure out metals
compt need tofigure this out too

[Theloose]

I'm thinking the reason it's an issue for me is because of my MTHFR gene that predisposes me to low BH4, therefor high ammonia, and that the ammonia combines with alpha ketoglutarate in the brain to form glutamate. So if the same scenario were happening in your family, it's possible your oldest just doesn't have the same gene combo and can process the protein better?

[FireWithin]

Originally Posted by whoMe

I'm thinking the reason it's an issue for me is because of my MTHFR gene that predisposes me to low BH4, therefor high ammonia, and that the ammonia combines with alpha ketoglutarate in the brain to form glutamate. So if the same scenario were happening in your family, it's possible your oldest just doesn't have the same gene combo and can process the protein better?

ok I'm trying to understand your thoughts here.

You are saying that you are reacting to glutamate because of the BH4- ammonia - alpha. . . connection, right? would you expect a tantrumy, whiny reaction from a child because of this - is it from excito-toxins?

I actually think that we might all be reacting, he just shows it differently - but I'm not sure. I pulled all Bragg's and bone broth from him and will do a test soon. Yesterday I noticed his allergy eczema spots on his face, so something was definately up.

[Theloose]

Originally Posted by Mammo2Sammo

ok I'm trying to understand your thoughts here.

You are saying that you are reacting to glutamate because of the BH4- ammonia - alpha. . . connection, right? would you expect a tantrumy, whiny reaction from a child because of this - is it from excito-toxins?

I actually think that we might all be reacting, he just shows it differently - but I'm not sure. I pulled all Bragg's and bone broth from him and will do a test soon. Yesterday I noticed his allergy eczema spots on his face, so something was definately up.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. That we have high glutamate because of that stuff. For us, I don't think it's affecting behavior so much as how we're processing other nutrients. So I don't know. Whiny and tantrums would definitely be in the realm of possibility. There are lots of other naturally occuring glutamates like in green peas- if you want to do a real trial, I'd definitely find one of those lists.

[lil_miss_understood]

I'm late to the party but I'm subbing.

[MyLittleWonders]

Originally Posted by JacquelineR

I'm late to the party but I'm subbing.

Subbing too. Dh started getting really bad migraines from raw milk (he was consuming almost 1/2 gallon a day - don't ask ). Once he cut all dairy, he hasn't had any that he can really tell. From what I can find, milk is high in free glutamate, but I'm wondering if that is because it is processed. Does raw milk have the same free glutamate issues as pasteurized?

[Theloose]

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1174503-overview
my ammonia/glutamate theory is on the right track!! :

"On the basis of animal study findings, the mechanism of ammonia neurotoxicity at the molecular level has been proposed. Acute ammonia intoxication in an animal model leads to increased extracellular concentration of glutamate in the brain and results in activation of the N -methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor."

(now to read the rest of the article)

[FireWithin]

I was reading the below. It was a section that talked about CoQ10 (which according to the site is an expensive supplement). It makes me wonder, maybe I can use a CoQ10 supplement for occasional corn exposure - maybe in the same way some use specialized enzymes.

http://www.msgtruth.org/remedies.htm
"It should also be noted that some MSG sensitive individuals complain of reactions to food items containing corn. Corn contains substances which interfere in the glucose to energy pathway. It was found early in the 20th century that diets consisting mainly of corn result in the disease pellagra. Pellagra is a deficiency of niacin. Niacin is the vitamin that aids in the glucose to energy pathway. Niacin deficiency results in "The Four D's" Dermatitis, Dementia, Diarrhea, and Death, because work all over the body grinds to a halt, and cells die from lack of energy. Those with liver damage or vitamin B6 deficiency and whose MSG sensitivity manifests itself as skin rash, digestive disorders, lack of concentration, and corn sensitivity, may be helped by taking CoQ10."

[FireWithin]

I mentioned that my son had been whiny and tantrumy. I finally figured out that he was having the same level of MSG migraines as I was. These headaches were absolute killers. Days later I have flight residual headxches. I believe my son is a little worse. Poor guy. I don't know how my youngest faired with all this. He drank much less alfafa than we did. I cut back on meat consumption and the headache significsnyly decreased.
But while eating dinner of chicken, eggplant and potatoes I started reacting sigh another hesdache and congestion in my sinuses and lungs. I am try remember the cause. Hours later, still congested.

Eta- I wonder if the congestion is from the eggplant which is heavy on oxalites (sp?) . I realized the congestion is from calcium. My merl was not calcium rich.

[Theloose]

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/experts...2-24-08-08.pdf

http://www.ionchannels.org/showabstr...p?pmid=9440691

the EFA link to calcium ion channels (I think?)

[FireWithin]

Since our entire glutamate issue popped up, when using alfalfa, I have been afraid to use bone broth again. It has quite a bit of glutamate in it, but it is also so full of nutrition that I keep on thinking the nutrition outways the glutamate stress. any opinions?

If I felt I had more control over glutamates rather than removal and reduced meat, I would feel better.

Figuring this out is a top priority for me. Will try to come back with decisions, but first I need to post my gum free bread recipe.