| Dr. Russell L. Blaylock M.D. has written a compelling | | | | describing the "blood/brain barrier" we learn that this |
| book detailing the results of numerous studies of the | | | | barrier the first line of defense the brain has against |
| effects of what he calls "excitotoxins" in the brain. | | | | blood borne toxins and may actually leak under |
| "Excitotoxins," such as glutamate (Monosodium | | | | certain circumstances which presents another |
| Glutamate, commonly called MSG) and Aspartate | | | | problem with ingesting these specific amino acids. |
| (such as the artificial sweetener, NutraSweet) are | | | | In chapter 2 we receive a review of Amino Acids. |
| among the over seventy types of special amino | | | | This is important since the "excitotoxins" are actually |
| acids present in the brain that are known to be | | | | Amino Acids that are normally present in the brain. Dr. |
| largely present in most packaged processed foods | | | | Blaylock gives a brief overview of amino acids and |
| available today. | | | | how they are the building blocks used to create |
| Before precisely defining why they are named | | | | proteins in a process called anabolism. Interestingly |
| "excitotoxins," In Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, | | | | noted is collagen (the largest protein in the body) |
| (Health Press, 1997) Dr. Blaylock leads the reader on | | | | which contains 1500 amino acids. |
| a crash course of the brain in chapter 1. Most of this | | | | Finally we are given a glimpse of what the potential |
| chapter can truthfully be skipped since the | | | | problem is as Dr. Blaylock explains another function of |
| descriptions are very detailed and repeated again in | | | | amino acids. Apparently, in addition to being used to |
| subsequent chapters. However, with a brief overview | | | | construct protein, some amino acids act as |
| of the parts of the brain (The Frontal Lobes, The | | | | neurotransmitters. Glutamate, Aspartate and glycine |
| Parietal Lobes, Occipital Lobes, Temporal Lobes, The | | | | are examples of these types of amino acids. Dr. |
| brains interior paired nuclei, Brain Stem, Pituitary Gland | | | | Blaylock describes in detail the neurotransmitter firing |
| and Hypothalamus) and the neuron composition | | | | process. He also points out that neuroscientists have |
| (Dendrite, Cell Body, Axon and Terminal Endings) we | | | | discovered that glutamate is one of the most |
| gain a great appreciation for the complexity and yet | | | | common neurotransmitters in the brain. Many areas |
| delicate operating balances within the human brain. | | | | of the brain contain extensive glutamate type |
| In chapter 1 Dr. Blaylock does inform us that the | | | | neurons. Activation of cortical glutamate neurons in |
| brain consumes 20% of the body's required oxygen | | | | turn activate other neurons within the nuclei located |
| and 25% of the body's required glucose for normal | | | | deep within the brain. |
| operations. Oddly enough, this is the one piece of | | | | These connections are important when examining the |
| information we need to remember for Chapter 3. | | | | effects of excitatory amino acids (such as MSG) and |
| The problem is that this tremendous need for | | | | the origins of neurological disease which are revealed |
| oxygen and glucose circulating in the blood makes the | | | | in later chapters. |
| brain vulnerable to ingested to toxins. In a section | | | | |