Monosodium Glutamate, known better by its notorious acronym, “MSG,” and Soy are two of my primary seizure triggers. Each is found in a large variety of products including food, cosmetics, toiletries, etc. The list truly does goes on and on…each ingredient is cheap to use and companies love the fact that it increases their bottom line.
Recently, people have become more aware of exactly how bad MSG and Soy are for the human body so many companies have tried to side-step the issue of decreased sales due to their inclusion of poor quality ingredients by using code-names instead. So, these companies are still using the same poor quality ingredients, they’ve simply become adept at disguising “said” ingredients with hard to pronounce and unrecognizable ingredients names.
Entire lists of codenames exist for MSG and Soy. By using codenames, companies can continue to use these ingredients without the general public realizing it. Some codenames for MSG include Maltodextrin, Natural Flavor, Carrageenan, Dextrose, and Malted Barley.
To read the full list of codenames for MSG visit:
Codenames for Soy include Tocopherol or Vitamin E, Soy Lecithin, Soy Protein, Soybean Oil, and Mono or Diglycerides.
To read the full list of codenames for Soy visit:
It is actually quite sneaky because who would have guessed that Vitamin E can be sourced from soy? It’s crazy! In Epilepsy Insight #8, I go into greater detail about MSG and Soy as seizure triggers. I also share a few tips on how to avoid these ingredients in your everyday life.
***Side Note: It is also important to pay special attention to a brand’s wording in relation to whether or not they include either of these ingredients in their food. Take the very popular chain restaurant Panda Express, for example. On the glass display where you choose your dishes you will see a notice informing the customer that there is “No MSG Added.” At first glance, one might think Panda Express’ food does not contain any MSG. Reading the ingredient labels for each individual dish offered by Panda Express will quickly inform the consumer that MSG does indeed exist in their food, however, once it’s put behind the pretty glass case no more MSG is added. So, be careful to investigate every ingredient label whether it is involving something edible or not because you will uncover the true nature of the product regardless of what is advertised.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text, and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.