Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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So Whole Foods had a blow-out sale on cases of Pacific Organic Kosher Chicken Broth. I bought a case, but somehow I didn't notice a particular ingredient in there- autolyzed yeast extract (which is odd since I've been an ingredient nazi for quite some time now...)

I've been researching it a bit, it seems as though it is either the same as or very similar to MSG. I've used some, and don't have any real acute MSG reaction symptoms. It also is gluten free apparently (it says so on the box too...) What does anyone know about glutamic acid, free glutamate, MSG etc? Harmful?

I rarely find myself in the predicament, since I mostly just buy meat and produce, and am generally very strict with additives and such in my foods. So, should I march back into WF and get a refund, or should I let this slide?

And yes I know how much better just making my own broth would be, so please don't suggest that.

flag	asked Mar 8 2011 at 4:28 Daniel 741●1●5●12

	read Russel Blaylock's book Excitotoxins......he is a collegue and dead right about MSG aspartame and glutamates.....they all trash the NMDA receptor permanently to kill neurons. Avoid it like the plague. – The Quilt Mar 8 2011 at 13:08
	Is this the low sodium one? I've checked the labels at my local grocery store, and only the low sodium Pacific broth had autolyzed yeast extract. I've heard of them (food processors, not Pacific in general) using different recipes for different stores, though. – WordVixen Mar 8 2011 at 19:11

Travis Culp · Answer 1 · 2011-03-08 04:46:02Z UTC

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It's one of many ways to hide glutamates in food. Personally, I'd skip it as the unnatural excitotoxic effect on our neurons is outside of what would have ever really occurred and supposedly permanently damaging. Hard to say what the dose of it would be in some chicken broth though. They make stock that is just organic chicken and salt.

answered Mar 8 2011 at 4:46

Travis Culp♦
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	Is there any evidence that ingested autolyzed yeast has an excitotoxic effect? – Jon Thoroddsen Mar 8 2011 at 9:04
	MSG has been shown to have excitoxic effects, autolyzed yeast is basically the same thing. It contains tons of free glutamic acid, like MSG and even in similar amounts. – justanotherhunt Mar 8 2011 at 20:23

No more. · Answer 2 · 2011-03-08 05:09:32Z UTC

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". A comprehensive review of the scientific data conducted from 1992 to 1995 by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), an independent group of scientists, at the behest of the FDA, found no connection between MSG and any short- or long-term health problems. "

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400215

answered Mar 8 2011 at 5:09

No more.
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If we listened to scientists working with the government, we'd all be eating wheat, industrial seed oils and taking statins. – Travis Culp♦ Mar 8 2011 at 6:46

nice Travis!!!! – The Quilt Mar 8 2011 at 13:09

Dana · Answer 3 · 2011-03-08 05:06:34Z UTC

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I don't worry about glutamates. They're amino acids. MSG is a salt made out of an amino acid, though. I'm not sure how often that occurs in nature, and that might be why MSG is so irritating to some people.

I've heard about autolyzed yeast extract being close to MSG but the sources were not always trustworthy in my opinion.

answered Mar 8 2011 at 5:06

Dana
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the amount of glutamate in MSG and autolyzed yeast are not found ANYWHERE in nature in the amount they are in processed food. And it's responsible for a lot of the obesity in America. MSG makes people more hungry, makes junk food taste better, and makes people into food addicts. It also has excitotoxic effects on the brain, it's a drug! – justanotherhunt May 17 2011 at 22:05

Melinda · Answer 4 · 2011-03-08 05:42:15Z UTC

I am very careful about broths also --- but as a working mom - I don't always have time to make mine from scratch. Here is the brand that I use: http://www.superiortouch.com/retail/products/better-than-bouillon/kosher-bases/48/chicken-base-kosher-passover - it still has potato starch in it but it is the least awful of all the commercial broths that I have found. They also have an organic beef broth but it has maltodextrin in it which I think is a corn derivative. I am Paleo out of necessity because I have severe Celiac with sensitivity to most grains, so I stay away from autolyzed yeast extract (in every other chicken broth that I have ever found) - and I stay away from dextrose. Supposedly, maltodextrin is gluten free but it's not worth it to me.

Autolyzed Yeast Extract… Consensus?

4 Answers