Well That Certainly Seems Appropriate...

[Sean]

And yet a few posts ago you claimed that you have tried it.

It's already been pointed out that that was Vegemite. Are you reversing your claim that Vegemite and Marmite aren't the same thing?

Don't be so fucking stupid. I pointed out that you went from claiming that you'd tried what you thought was Marmite to saying that you would never touch it just a few posts later.

[Sean]

MSG is classified as an additive, not a nutrient.

MSG and Addiction

Glutamate is intimately linked to addictive behaviors. See the following link about how brain neurotransmitters like Glutamate and Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) are affected by alcohol and other drugs linked to substance abuse:

http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/add ... thways.cfm

Glutamate in its free state - as found in MSG, stimulates the NMDA (N-Methyl D-Aspartate) receptors in the brain. These receptors are currently being investigated for their role in Long Term Depression.

Glutamate and GABA are yin and yang when it comes to brain neurotransmitters. They must be in balance for things to work properly. The body has a chemical feedback loop to make sure of this. GABA, is created from excess glutamate in the body, by the enzyme Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD). GABA has the opposite effect of MSG and glutamate. It is calming. GABA fits the same receptors in the brain as valium and so may have an addictive effect. GABA is the body's natural version of valium. Excess excitatory glutamate SHOULD be turned into calming GABA, however, in some individuals, an imbalance compels them to act to swing the balance back. That means seeking out substances that have the same effect as GABA.

Not everyone can easily get rid of excess Glutamate from MSG and these folks may be at risk of addictive behaviors due to a GABA deficiency. It should be noted that Type I diabetics often have antibodies against GAD, so they are already at risk of not being able to make GABA properly.
Taurine, made from the amino acid cysteine, which is adversely affected by glutamate, has shown some promise in treating drug addiction. Taurine is also a neurotransmitter that has a CNS-calming effect like GABA.

Why is MSG added to our foods?

To make us eat more. The MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products. It is like nicotine in our food. It makes people chose their product over another and eat more of their product than if it didn’t have MSG in it. Thus, MSG causes obesity and it is addictive! MSG is being added in larger and larger doses to prepackaged meals, soups, snacks and fast foods to make us eat more.

Dr. Royce Bailey M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.C.

Yes, it is an additive as I pointed out before. I also pointed out that it is NOT added to Marmite.

Go on, I dare you to show me any evidence that it is. It is a derivative of the acids found naturally in yeast extract. In fact, if you believe that they are one and the same I'm going to assume that you don't eat salt either. Don't forget that salt contains Sodium which is also found in MSG!

[loCAtek]

I pointed out that you went from claiming that you'd tried what you thought was Marmite to saying that you would never touch it just a few posts later.

That's correct. Since, I've been informed I hadn't touched Marmite, and with the follow up research and info from this thread, I've decided that I'd rather not ever touch it.

Yes, it is an additive as I pointed out before. I also pointed out that it is NOT added to Marmite.

Go on, I dare you to show me any evidence that it is. It is a derivative of the acids found naturally in yeast extract. In fact, if you believe that they are one and

The natural yeasts used to produce beer and Marmite, like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, do have naturally occurring glutamic acid like many organic plant, fungi and animal products.
Monosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate or MSG, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. Meaning MSG is the solid form of glutamic acid; and when the liquid state of glutamate crystallizes it becomes MSG.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), first isolated as glutamic acid in 1866,

It's the concentrating process of creating yeast extract, from Brewer's yeast, that elevates the levels of free glutamic acid/MSG to unnatural proportions that can be unhealthy, when it reaches toxicity levels. The free glutamic acid/MSG is not added, it is concentrated by the assistance of high temperature.

MSG is classified as an additive, because most natural foods have enough to support the average dietary needs. Increasing by concentrating more glutamic acid/MSG per serving into foodstuffs is unnecessary and in some cases harmful.

[Lord Jim]

I want to make clear that the above posted image is intended as an allegory (analogy? metaphor? simile? ) for the direction of this exchange, and not necessarily as a comment about Marmite itself....*










*though that works too....

[loCAtek]

It's appropriately disgusting, fo' sho'

[loCAtek]

Over TEN THOUSAND VIEWS!!! Woo-Hoo!

[The Hen]

The more people with no direct knowledge complain of substances they have never tried, the more I think of Sean's Pudd analogy.

Lo, if you want this thread to beat all viewing records, keep opening it to increase the view count as you have been doing. Though why you want to is beyond me.

[Sean]

Mind you, Pudd isn't quite childish enough to use ridiculous claims of additives in food he doesn't want to eat...

[Jarlaxle]

The more people with no direct knowledge complain of substances they have never tried, the more I think of Sean's Pudd analogy.

Lo, if you want this thread to beat all viewing records, keep opening it to increase the view count as you have been doing. Though why you want to is beyond me.

Considering that the SMELL makes me sick...no, I don't think I'll try it.

[The Hen]

Fair enough.

Then you really can't say whether it is a good product or a bad product, simply that you find the smell revolting.

I'll mark you down as a scardey cat then.

[loCAtek]

Well in my country, legally MSG hasn't been allowed in baby food since;

In 1968, Dr. John W. Olney, a neuroscientist, did experiments in which he found that infant mice had severe brain damage when given MSG and aspartate (brand name NutraSweet). The hypothalamus was severely affected. This is an important part of the brain which controls release of hormones. Science, 165 (1969)

I hear Meth is pretty tasty too, but I don't knowingly try excessive amounts of neurotoxins.

[Jarlaxle]

Fair enough.

Then you really can't say whether it is a good product or a bad product, simply that you find the smell revolting.

I'll mark you down as a scardey cat then.

No, I do not find the smell revolting. I find the smell INTOLERABLE. If I smell marmite, I WILL get sick. I WILL vomit. The only thing that comes close for being that vile is burning urine.

[Lord Jim]

I think Jarl makes a fair observation...

The way something smells definitely plays a role in whether or not one will enjoy the taste....

I don't eat hard boiled eggs, (or anything made with hard boiled eggs) for example, because I refuse to put something in my mouth that smells like a particularly odiferous fart....

[BoSoxGal]

That's only true of overcooked hard boiled eggs, in my experience.

[Daisy]

No, I do not find the smell revolting. I find the smell INTOLERABLE. If I smell marmite, I WILL get sick. I WILL vomit. The only thing that comes close for being that vile is burning urine.

Really, I love the smell of it.

MSG is not added to marmite, however it does have natural glutamate properties (note please loCA, this is not MSG). This is where the "umami" characteristic of Marmite comes from. But then so does Parmigiano-Reggiano, tomatoes, fish sauce, seaweed and mushrooms. It's just a little more concentrated in Marmite.

[loCAtek]

I understand MSG not added to Marmite; however glutamic acid is the ingredient in MSG that makes it umami. So, that's six of one half dozen of the other.

It's just a little more concentrated in Marmite.

It's a lot more concentrated; my links above show it has the highest concentration in any food. According to Wiki link above, the levels are 1960 Free glutamate (mg/100 g). Grape juice, which had the highest levels in natural organic food has only 258 Free glutamate (mg/100 g).


As for trying it, to see if you'd like it? With those toxic levels of free glutamic acid in it; forcibly fooling your brain into liking it, you'd like used motor oil too.

[Daisy]

Oh for gods sake. I understand why no-one wants to deal with you loCA.

You read one thing on Wikipedia and think you're a fucking expert.

The levels of glutamic acid in Marmite whilst higher than grape juice would only be high enough to cause neuro toxicity if eaten by the kilo every day. Now I love Marmite, but even I would struggle to eat more than a teaspoonful a day.

An average 5gram serving of Marmite gives you 98mg of glutamic acid. An average half litre glass of grape juice gives you 1290mg.

It's all about proportion right?


Hey have a look round at the Internet long enough and you'll find pretty much EVERYTHING can kill you.

[BoSoxGal]

She's just trying to paint Marmite-eaters as bigger addicts than she is.

[loCAtek]

Yet strangely, folks do 'deal' with me ...and willingly too.

As stated, I've been looking into free glutamic acid/MSG since September, when I was reading up on Muscle Milk, but you're right, that doesn't make me an expert. Which was why I've posted as many different links as I could, not just Wiki.

Actually, it was my addiction that got me interested in this because part of my change in diet was to help de-tox. Thanks for asking Most everything I read says to avoid free glutamic acid/MSG and in particular names Marmite.
All of this in response as to why I don't want to try Marmite. If you didn't want my honest answer, then why do some keep asking?

ETA: no wait, it was August, because that was the month of Ramadan.

[Sean]

Yet strangely, folks do 'deal' with me ...and willingly too. [/i]

Less and less people everyday on this board it would seem.
Have you ever stopped to wonder why that is?

Do you even care or are you happy with the troll trio egging you on from the wings?