Cancer
Glutamate levels were shown to be
high in cancer patients in this study reported in the
Oxford Journals. Patients with lung
cancer with the lowest glutamate levels had the highest survival rates.
They also had the highest cysteine levels. Cysteine - a sulfur
containing amino acid - is used to make glutathione as well as taurine - the
body's natural water soluble anti-oxidant. This finding suggests that
glutamate may interfere with cysteine and glutathione production in the
body.
In this
paper from the National Academy of
Sciences, glutamate antagonists slow tumor growth.
This
article discusses the use of glutamate
antagonists or blockers in the treatment of cancer. These antagonists
apparently also inhibit cancer cell migration and so may be useful in
preventing cells from proliferating throughout the body. One has to
ask the nagging question, then - If blocking glutamate can cause cancer
cells to die and stop migrating, shouldn't cancer patients stop eating MSG
and aspartame? Unfortunately, patients suffering from cancer are
rarely, if ever told this information.
In India, because
of a study of 134 people with stomach cancer who were avid consumers of food
which contained MSG, The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Owners of
Eastern India (as noted in this
India Times article) has asked its members
to refrain from using MSG.
Word is getting
out, but unfortunately, not in the United States. For information on
where MSG is actually hidden to help those who wish to avoid it - we have
added more information to our
Foods to Avoid page.
For those looking
for more information on cancer treatment and the role of diet - please visit
http://www.gerson.org/ It is
a non-profit organization committed to using proper nutrition and
elimination of foods such as MSG and aspartame in treating chronic,
incurable diseases including cancer.